










































THE GIANT’S RUBT 
And Other Fairy Tales 






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THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two Copies Received 

SEP 30 1003 

Copyright Entry 

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CLASS CL XXc. No ! 

(? 9 ^ V £ 

COPY 0. 





Copyright , /poj, 

By Little, Brown, and Company. 

rights reserved 

Published October, 1903 



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UNIVERSITY PRESS • JOHN WILSON 
AND SON • CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A. 


RICHARD ASHLEY BLODGETT 

THIS BOOK 

IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED BY 


HIS MOTHER 




♦ 


I 



* 


CONTENTS 


Page 

I. The Giant’s Euby 1 

II. When Christmas came too early ... 37 

III. The Prince of the Silver Shield ... 69 

IV. How Dantizol the Dragon lost his Tail 94 

V. The Faithful Porcupine 123 

VI. Avalon and the Wind Witch .... 153 

VII. The Queen of the Seven Mountains . . 178 

VIII. Princess Florizelle and the Chest of 

Gold 206 

IX. The Magic Yardstick 238 

X. Children of the Sun 268 


I 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATION S 


The Princess combs her hair at the Ogre’s 

window 

“ ‘ So you two mites have done what even I 

could not accomplish ? ’” 

“ When he awoke a beautiful maiden stood 

before him ” 

“The Prince played on and on, until at length 
the four brothers were indeed fast asleep ” 
“The door swung open and an aged crone 

stuck her head out ” 

“ As the fairy folk rushed to the attack, 1 Cock- 
a-doodle-doo-o,’ rang clear through the 
forest ” 



Frontispiece 


Page 

35 


u 

91 


a 

173 


it 

214 



“ 263 



The Giant’s Ruby 

and OTHER FAIRY TALES 



I 

THE GIANT’S RUBY 


F AR, far away, in the heart of a mighty 
forest there stood, grim and old and 
storm-beaten, a solitary Castle. 

So thick grew the trees about it that no sun- 
beam more than looked in that direction, or if 
one bolder than the rest did glance in at an up- 
per window, back with frightened haste it would 
speed to the safe, green, open country. Neither 
would the birds nest there. You might see a 
crow, perhaps, or a single raven, but even these, 
like the sunbeams, made short visits and seemed 
to flap their great black wings with haste and 
1 [ 1 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


call hoarse warnings one to the other as they 
sailed away. 

On the other hand, the toads and the snakes 
crept close to the great gray walls, and the bats 
hung head downward by hundreds in the Castle 
turrets. Owls perched, too, on the battlements, 
and the Fog Lady wrapped her mantle many 
and many a night about it all. 

Now, somebody told his neighbor, who whis- 
pered it to still another, that the Castle had once 
been the home of a fierce and mighty Giant; 
and somebody again told somebody else, who 
whispered it to his neighbor, that the Giant was 
coming back again. 

At this, as you may believe, there was a fine 
stir among the country-folk ; and after a great 
deal of talking and wagging of heads as well 
as of tongues, the villagers, whose town lay 
nearest the forest, decided to seek the Mayor 
and tell him that it was his plain duty to find 
out the truth of all these matters. 

“Go to the Castle,” said they, “and if the 
Giant isn’t there, why, find out when he is 
coming ; and if he is there, why, bid him wel- 
[ 2 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


come. Don’t for the world let him dream we 
don’t want him back ; and offer him just as little 
as you think he ’ll be content with : say a 
couple of pigs a year, and a fat goose or two.” 

“That’s all very well for you,” said the 
Mayor, rubbing his head, for he had thought 
so hard inventing excuses that it really ached, 
“ that’s all right for you, but how about Me f ” 
— he said it just like that. “You won’t be 
there to get in trouble if the Giant ’s in a bad 
temper, but think of Me .” 

“We do think of you,” cried all the people. 
“Aren’t you the Mayor? Of course you’re 
the one to go. That’s what Mayors are for. 
Here you’ve had the pick of our fattest fowls 
right along, and an extra fine turkey every 
Christmas, just for being Mayor, and now that 
you can do something and be of a little use, 
you make all sorts of objections. A pretty 
fellow you are.” And they talked so loud and 
waved their farming tools about in such an 
alarming manner that the poor man was forced 
to agree at once to all that they asked of him. 

In an hour, therefore, the Mayor was on his 

[ 3 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


way. There was no regular road through the 
forest, hut only a kind of path, and as it was 
much too far to walk to the Castle, the Mayor 
was forced to ride. He was n't much of a 
horseman, being very short and fat, and his 
legs would get tangled up in his long, ermine- 
trimmed Mayor’s cloak, which the people said he 
must wear ; but they gave him a quiet old farm- 
horse, and tied him securely into the saddle. 

The poor Mayor did hope, oh ! so earnestly, 
that the news about the Giant wasn’t true. 
Perhaps the monster did n’t own the Castle. 
Perhaps he was n’t coming back ! Perhaps, 
oh, joy! perhaps there wasn’t any Giant at 
all ! At this thought the Mayor looked very 
happy and began to feel very brave ; but, alas ! 
on the instant a great shadow fell upon him, 
and a voice like thunder called out, “ Ha ! 
what have we here ? ” 

The farm-horse gave a leap and a plunge, 
and would have turned round completely, only 
the path was too narrow ; and the Mayor was 
only held in the saddle by the stout rope that 
tied him. 


[ 4 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


The poor man would have liked to fall on 
his knees, but was prevented by the same 
reason, and again the great voice bellowed the 
question, “What have we here?” The Mayor 
looked up, and his usually rosy face was white. 
The Giant stood directly over him. 

Now he wasn’t such a big Giant, as Giants 
go, but he looked like a mountain to the Mayor. 
I suppose, as a matter of fact, only an ordinary 
man could have hidden in one of the Giant’s 
gloves, and certainly not one of his teeth was 
larger than your front door, and his staff was 
only a middling-sized oak-tree. No, he was n’t 
such a big Giant, but, my ! he was fierce ! 

He didn’t like to be kept waiting, either, 
and as the Mayor was too frightened to answer 
his question, the Giant picked him up, horse 
and all, and put him in his pocket, and there 
he kept him till the Hall of the great Castle 
was reached. 

Now the Giant had an Ogress for a grand- 
mother on his father’s side, so when the poor 
Mayor found his voice, and began to talk 
about pigs and geese as he had been com- 
[ 5 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


manded, the Giant’s great voice bellowed above 
him in fury, — 

“ Pigs, and Geese, indeed ! Tell your 
wretched village folk that I am their lord and 
master. I ’ll have once a month the fattest boy 
and girl in the place — and fat, mind you — 
fat ! ” and he pointed his finger at the Mayor, 
who suddenly felt very fat himself, and shook 
in his shoes accordingly. 

u There ’s a fine lot of cows you could have 
instead,” he began in a small voice, u and 
Neighbor Peterkin owns sheep.” (The Mayor 
had neither himself, so he thought this a very 
good way out of the trouble.) But now the 
Giant was really angry. 

“ Get you gone with my orders,” he roared 
in a voice of thunder, u and see that to-morrow 
at sunset the fattest of your boys and girls be 
here, or look you, Sir Messenger, you yourself 
shall be made into a stew.” 

“ Oh, they could n’t spare Me,” cried the 
Mayor; and in great alarm he belabored his 
horse with his whip, and galloped out of 
the Castle doorway, and on through the forest, 
[ 6 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


homeward as fast as the beast could carry 
him. 

You can picture to yourself the kind of wel- 
come he got in the village. The mothers were 
the angriest, perhaps, but the fathers were mad 
enough too. The Mayor felt as though he had 
fallen into a hornet’s nest. He kept saying how 
brave he had been, and how he had argued with 
the Giant, and how the monster would have 
only boys and girls — not a grown person. No ! 
not on any account, — only children received 
— and perhaps he ’d grow tired of the same 
diet and take to pigs again; and, anyway, it 
wasn’t his fault. But the more he talked the 
worse matters got. 

However, after everybody had said every- 
thing to be said, so many times over that 
everybody was out of breath, the meeting be- 
gan to break up, and one by one the villagers 
went to their homes, the fathers scowling, the 
mothers weeping, with the frightened children 
clinging to their skirts. 

Even the Mayor got away at last. On his 
own doorstep his face suddenly brightened. 

m 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


The very tiling! There was the boy who 
turned the spit in his kitchen, and the girl who 
fed the chickens. They were orphans. No- 
body would care very much if the Giant ate 
them, and then things would be peaceful for at 
least another month. 

So the Mayor called the children to him. 
“ Here, Hans,” he said, a I want you to take 
this letter and go with your sister to the Giant’s 
Castle. I myself called there to-day, so there ’s 
nothing to be afraid of. There, run along like 
a good boy.” 

“ I ’m afraid he ’ll eat me ! ” said Hans, a and 
eat sister too ; ” and he put his knuckles to his 
eyes and began to cry. 

“ Pooh ! pooh ! ” said the Mayor, “ a great 
boy like you crying for nothing ! Did he eat 
me? No. Well, then run along. It’s quite 
likely he won’t eat you, either.” 

The Mayor had made up his mind, and the 
villagers were pleased enough also. What a 
couple of children wanted did not signify, so 
they were packed off early the next morning, 
and all that troubled the Mayor was the fear 
[ 8 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


that the Giant would not find them fat enough 
and to his liking. 

Now a boy may be a turnspit and poor, and 
yet have a kind heart; and a girl may feed 
chickens for a living and wear a ragged dress, 
and yet be as brave and sweet as a Princess, — 
and that was the way with these two, Hans and 
Gretel. So, though they trudged along with 
heavy hearts, they tried to wear smiling faces, 
each for the other’s sake. Of course, they 
would have run away, had there been any 
place to run to ; but now no villager would 
shelter them, and in the gloomy forest they 
would have surely starved, even if some wild 
beast had not made a meal of them. 

“ The Giant at least can understand when we 
beg him to spare us,” said Hans. 

“And he may not be very hungry when we 
come in,” faltered poor Gretel. 

And talking thus, they reached the Castle. 
It was the hour of sunset, and the massive 
doors stood open. Gretel dropped a courtesy, 
and Hans pulled his forelock, as he had been 
taught to do. 


[ 9 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


“ May it please your Giantsliip, here we are,” 
they said, as they entered the vast Hall. 

The Giant had been taking a bit of a nap, 
for he was tired after a long day at hunting, 
but the children’s voices roused him. He picked 
them up and stood them on the table, the better 
to see them. 

“ Why, that fat Mayor would have made six 
of you,” he growled, while his eyes beneath 
their heavy brows shone so fiercely that Gretel 
trembled and clung to her brother. 

“I suppose now,” went on the Giant in his 
big voice, “ that, like all human children, you ’re 
very unreasonable. Perhaps you don’t even 
want to be eaten. How ’s that ? Hey ? ” 

When the Giant said “ Hey ? ” like that, the 
noise nearly knocked Hans and his sister over ; 
but they tried hard to keep their balance, and 
both answered as politely as possible, “ In- 
deed, we ’d much rather not, may it please your 
Giantsliip.” 

“Well,” said the Giant, after a moment’s 
thought. “You see this ring ; ” and he pointed 
to a great gold band on his finger with an empty 
[ 10 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


space where a stone should he. “ I don’t care 
particularly whether I eat you or not, but I do 
care a great deal about my lost ruby. Some 
thief ! ” and here the very rafters shook, “ some 
miserable thief has stolen it. Without it I am 
cold, yes, cold as ice. With it I am comfort- 
able. Its fires warm me as no mortal blaze can 
do, and I am content. When I am content and 
warm, I am not hungry : a sheep for luncheon 
and an ox or two for dinner, that is enough. 
But without my ruby I freeze, and when I 
freeze I hunger, and when I hunger I remember 
my Ogress grandmother, and when I remember 
her, I — ” 

“ Oh, yes, yes,” spoke up Hans quickly. 
“ Please don’t say it.” 

“Well,” said the Giant grimly, “you under- 
stand. I am a good-natured fellow enough 
when I hold my ruby, and it’s because of its 
loss that I am here. A first cousin of mine, who 
happens to be a Witch, told me to seek help in 
the Castle, my old home. 

‘ The ruby’s fire, mounting higher, 

Will show the two what they must do.’ 

[ii] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


That’s what my cousin the Witch said.” He 
stopped and looked at the children. 

“ Please, Sir, I ’m very good at finding things,” 
said Gretel. 

u Yes, indeed, your Giantship,” echoed Hans. 
“ She found the Mayoress’ breast-pin when she 
dropped it in the pigsty.” 

“You’re very small,” said the Giant doubt- 
fully. “ I wonder if the Witch meant you.” 

“ If we ’re small, we would n’t make much of a 
supper for you,” said Hans bravely, “ and we 
could look under things much better and crawl 
under them too. The ruby might be in a 
crack.” 

“Well,” said the Giant, “I tell you what I’ll 
do. I ’ll give you a month, and if you bring me 
the ruby before the time ’s up, I ’ll not eat you, 
but I will make your fortunes; but you must 
be back here promptly at supper- time ” — the 
children trembled — “and if you haven’t the 
ruby, nothing can save you. Do you promise ? ” 

“ Yes, yes, your Giantship,” cried the children 
eagerly, for really what else could they do ? 

“It’s a magic promise,” said the Giant, “and 

[ 12 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


you couldn’t break it if you wanted to. Now 
be off, and remember — at supper-time — I have 
it at six in the winter. Good-bye.” 

“ Good-bye,” said Hans, and he slid down the 
leg of the Giant’s table, and assisted his sister to 
do the same. 

The Giant tossed them a gold piece : it was a 
small one, fortunately, about the size of a dinner 
plate ; the cartwheel size they could not have 
carried. Then he clapped his hands, and an 
enormous Owl appeared. “Leave of absence 
for a month for these two,” he said, waving 
his hand. “ Take them to the outskirts of the 
forest and drop them, but see that you bring 
them back on time.” 

The Owl bowed solemnly, and at a further 
sign from the Giant the two children sat on the 
bird’s broad back, as out through the gathering 
gloom the great creature floated, the noiseless 
beating of its strong wings bearing them safely 
and steadily onward and away. 

Indeed, so swift and sure was its flight, that 
after a little the children dared to look about 
them ; but they saw only a cloudy sky above, 
[ 13 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


with a star or two playing at hide-and-seek, and 
below but the vast and gloomy forest. 

Hans and Gretel, therefore, sensibly went to 
sleep, and when they woke they might have 
thought it all a dream had not the glitter of the 
Giant’s gold piece dazzled their heavy eyes. 

The Owl had disappeared, the forest was at 
their back, the open country stretched before 
them, and the silver roof of a queer-looking 
structure gleamed bright in the morning sun, 
not very far away. 

“ What a strange place ! It seems to be on 
stilts,” said Gretel, as, hand in hand, brother and 
sister trudged along. 

“I hope we’ll get something to eat there,” 
answered Hans. “I think I’d almost rather 
find some breakfast this morning than even the 
Giant’s ruby.” 

“ But I ’ve some black bread, brother, in my 
apron pocket, and see, there’s a brook, and — 
quick ! is n’t that a honeycomb in the heart of 
that old tree ? ” cried Gretel. 

So, as you may believe, it did not take long 
for the two children to make a hearty meal ; 

[ 14 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


and the sweet air blowing on their faces, the 
feeling of freedom, together with their hunger, 
made the simple food taste as never before. 

It was with fresh courage, therefore, that they 
pressed forward, and it was not long before they 
saw that what they had taken for a building 
was really a monster Stork, standing on its stilt- 
like legs, and preening its snowy feathers with 
its long bill. 

Hans and Gretel had been through such won- 
derful adventures already that they were not 
much surprised when the Stork fixed its sharp 
eyes upon them, and called to them to stop. 

“ Dear me ! dear me ! ” it said, raising itself 
up and down on its toes in quite a remarkable 
manner, “ what are you doing here, children ? 
Who would have thought it ! Is there no place 
where one can be quiet? There, there, don’t 
come any nearer. You might wake up the 
babies ! Dear ! dear ! dear ! I forgot to ask, 
do you like babies ? ” 

“Yes, Sir,” began Gretel; but the Stork looked 
much offended. 

“ Yes, Madam,” it snapped. 

[ 15 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


“ Oh, forgive me, we do like them indeed, 
Madam, but my brother and I are looking for 
a great treasure just now. Have you, Madam 
— please, please tell us — have you in your 
flights ever seen anything of a ruby that glows 
like fire? ” 

“ Flights,” said the Stork, suspiciously. u I 
don't know what you mean by flights. I can 
tell you I 'm not one of your flighty kind, not 
by any means. Of course, I have to bring 
the darlings to their new homes when called 
for, but I don't bother about rubies and such 
trash, I can tell you. Nasty things ! the little 
dears might choke themselves or — did you say 
it glowed like fire ? Goodness gracious ! ” went 
on the Stork in great agitation, “I hope you 
did n’t bring any such stuff with you ? ” 

“ No,” answered Hans, sadly enough, “ we 
didn’t. But please, Madam Stork, I don't see 
any babies. Where are they ? ” 

“ Where should they be but in bed ? ” an- 
swered the Stork in the same fussy way, but 
more pleasantly, for she had begun to notice 
the good manners of the children. “ I just 
[ 16 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


came up for a bit of an airing.” She pointed 
her bill to an opening in the ground beneath 
her feet. “ The nursery is down there,” she 
said, “ and I can’t stay here talking much 
longer. I have three girls and four boys to 
bring to their new homes before night, and one 
is a Princess in her own right, let me tell you. 

“But what was that you said about a ruby? 
The Gnome Queen’s nursery is next door. I 
believe she lets her children play with such 
things.” The Stork lowered her voice. “Nice 
enough babies, of course,” she said, “but quite 
different from mine, you understand. You seem 
good, quiet children,” the great bird went on. 
“ Perhaps this will help you.” 

She stopped and pulled a shining feather from 
her breast. “ My compliments to the Gnome 
Queen,” she added, “and give her this. Now 
step lightly ! There, go in behind that gray 
rock. Nobody will hurt you. Show the feather 
and ask for the Queen. I hear my darlings 
calling. Good-bye ; ” and in an instant the 
Stork had disappeared. 

With hearts beating high with hope, Hans 

2 [ 17 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


and Gretel stepped to the opening that the Stork 
had pointed out. Sure enough, there it was, 
back of the gray moss-covered boulder. The 
children peered down into the hole. Not a ray 
of light was to be seen, and only a faint sound 
of hammering could now and again be dimly 
heard. The sunlight and the green grass looked 
doubly inviting now ; but nothing venture, 
nothing have, and with the thought of the ruby 
to give them courage, they plunged boldly 
downward. 

To their surprise, after a fall that shook them 
up a little but did not hurt them, their feet 
touched steps cut into the solid earth, and hav- 
ing descended these for some distance, they 
came at last to a long, winding passage, down 
which they groped their way. At the end a 
tiny glimmer of light danced and beckoned 
them onward. It grew brighter, and at last the 
children saw that it came from the tassel that 
bobbed about on the tip of a cap worn by the 
queerest little creature they had yet seen. 

This small personage was almost as broad as 
he was long, with small twinkling eyes, little 
[ 18 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 

turned-up nose, and a huge mouth. He wore 
brown leggings, pointed shoes, and a red coat. 
To his leather belt hung a bunch of keys that 
jingled as he moved, and the children were able 
to see him quite plainly by reason of the tassel, 
which, as I have said, hung from the tip of his 
pointed cap and which glowed bright as living 
fire. 

u I am the Keeper of the Passage-way,” said 
this strange being in a small hard voice, that 
sounded like iron on steel. “ Halt, earth chil- 
dren ! By what right do you crave entrance ? ” 

“ By this feather,” answered Hans; and he 
gave the Stork’s message. 

“Her Majesty, the Gnome Queen, is in the 
nursery,” said the Keeper of the Passage-way. 
u Come with me.” 

Hans and Gretel obediently followed through 
many a gate which the Gnome unlocked and 
along a winding maze of narrow paths, all 
tunnelled deep beneath the earth. The chil- 
dren saw many strange sights as they passed: 
busy workers in arched chambers, hammering 
out yellow metal into curious shapes ; jewels in 
[ 19 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


carefully sorted heaps, guarded jealously by 
other Gnomes ; and miners toiling hard and 
steadily. They did not linger, for their guide 
hurried them along ; and at last, with a whispered 
word to the sentinel on duty, the nursery door 
was opened, and Hans and Gretel stepped across 
the threshold. 

Here, after the darkness of the outer halls, the 
light was dazzling, while upon their wondering 
ears fell the deafening roars of a young Gnome, 
whom the Queen Mother was trying vainly to 
soothe. 

Indeed her Majesty paid hut little attention to 
the Keeper’s explanation of the Earth children’s 
errand, but motioned him impatiently away. 
Fortunately, at the sight of Hans and Gretel 
the young Gnome forgot his grievance and 
stared at the intruders. 

It really was hard to keep from laughing, and 
only true politeness saved Hans and Gretel; 
for the small Gnome’s mouth was stretched so 
wide, and his little bead-like eyes had so nearly 
disappeared. 

“This is Prince Amethyst,” said the Queen 

[ 20 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Mother, straightening her crown as she spoke, 
for in the excitement it had fallen a little over 
one ear. “The dear child,” she explained with 
pride, “has just found out that his brother’s 
marbles are made of real diamonds, while his 
are only imitation. Of course he could n’t stand 
that. No child of mine would. But think how 
clever of him to know the difference. He shall 
have some real ones right away. 

“ Handsome, is n’t he ? ” continued the Queen 
Mother in a whisper. “ I know that ’s what 
you ’re thinking ; that lovely yellow complexion 
runs in our family. It comes from drinking 
molten gold. Yes, even as babies, my children 
will have nothing else. They tried liquid silver 
once with Prince Amethyst. They did n’t do 
it twice, I can tell you. Now the Stork next 
door, if you ’ll believe it, gives her babies milk. 
Just common milk. Oh, well, you can tell it 
by their faces. Not a yellow skin among the 
lot.” 

“ Please, your Majesty,” began Hans, “ the 
Stork said you might be able to tell us some- 
thing about the Giant’s ruby.” 

[ 21 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


The Gnome Queen looked at him sharply. 
“The Giant’s ruby,” she repeated in quite a 
different tone. “ I made a poor bargain there : 
I sold it to the Fire Elves for only twice what 
I paid for it.” 

“ Sold it ! ” cried both children in a breath. 

“Yes,” went on the Queen Mother. “Am- 
ethyst there ivould try to play with it, and 
burned his fingers badly. It ’s only in the 
Giant’s ring that the ruby behaves properly. 
But it is such a beauty, I was tempted to buy 
it. Before the Fire Elves took it, we had 
trouble enough, I can tell you. They thought 
they could manage; but from all I hear, the 
ruby ’s acting worse than ever.” 

“ Please, please tell us where the Fire Elves 
live ? ” asked Hans, hardly able to wait for the 
answer. “ Is it far away ? ” 

“ Oh, not very,” replied the Queen Mother 
carelessly. “ You could get there if you 
knew how, in a couple of months, I dare 
say.” 

Gretel almost burst into tears at this, but 
Hans thought he saw in the Gnome Queen’s 
[ 22 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


face that she knew something’ more on the 
subject. 

“ Can you not tell us another way ? ” he 
pleaded. 

“ In our family/’ answered the Queen Mother 
shortly, u we don’t give anything for nothing.” 

“ But if we pay for it ? ” said Hans eagerly, 
pulling out the Giant’s gold piece as he 
spoke. 

The Gnome Queen’s heady eyes glistened. 

“ That ’s another matter,” she replied at once. 
“ You may drop that into the Wishing Ma- 
chine, and it will take you to the Fire Elves’ 
Kingdom.” 

“ And Gretel too ? ” asked Hans. 

“ Not without another gold piece,” the Queen 
answered. 

“ Then,” said Hans sadly, u I cannot go, 
either ; ” and he began to unbutton his jacket to 
put the money back again. 

“ Not so fast ! ’’ commanded the Queen. Her 
little eyes twinkled craftily. 11 Suppose you 
and your sister each go half-way. That will be 
to the Water Nymph’s Kingdom. Here you,’’ 
[ 23 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


she called to the sentinel, “ take these earth 
children to the Wishing Machine, and see that 
they drop their gold piece in the right slot. 
Good-morning.” 

And Hans and Gretel found themselves hur- 
ried along to what seemed to be a small iron 
platform, up to which their new guide now led 
them. Above it stood a round metal pillar, in 
which were slits of different sizes. Obeying the 
Gnome’s directions, the children stood on the 
platform and dropped their precious gold piece 
into an opening marked “ W. N. K.” 

“ Close your eyes and wish ! ’’ commanded 
he ; and as they did so, “ Whir-r-r whiz whir-r-r n 
went something above and around them, and in 
an instant the bewildered pair found themselves 
lying on the grass in the upper world once 
more, close beside a waterfall ; and oh, joy ! 
best of all, within a few feet of a thick clump 
of raspberry bushes laden with fruit. Here 
they made a good dinner, and then, being tired, 
fell fast asleep. 

When Gretel awoke, the sun was setting. 
She sat up and rubbed her eyes. She was quite 
[ 24 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


alone. Her brother was nowhere to be seen. 
The little girl sprang to her feet, and ran in 
every direction, calling “ Hans ! Hans ! ” but 
only the echo answered. At last, lonely, fright- 
ened, and tired, she sank down and began to 
cry bitterly. 

“ Why do you weep, maiden ? ” asked a 
musical voice that mingled with the splash of 
the waterfall. 

Gretel looked up, and beheld through her 
tears a slender, beautiful figure, with flowing 
sea-green hair, deep gray eyes, and milk-white 
skin. A shimmering azure robe fell from the 
stranger’s shoulders, bracelets of shell and coral 
were on her arms, her waist was girdled by 
a golden net, and her little feet were shod with 
silver sandals. 

“ I am the Nymph of the Waterfall,” said she, 
and closing her hands into a cup, she eagerly 
caught the tears that fell down Gretel’ s rosy 
cheeks. “Look!” she cried in triumph. “Be- 
hold how each tear becomes a pearl. The Sea 
Queen herself could have no lovelier necklace. 
Give them to me, earth maiden, and I in return 
[ 25 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


will bestow upon you my golden girdle ; ” and 
she unclasped it as she spoke. 

“ I would rather have my brother,” sobbed 
the little girl. 

The Nymph laughed. cl Foolish child!” she 
said; “ but take the girdle also, it may serve 
you well. As for your brother, I saw him not 
long since following Lustro the Water Kelpie. 
Since you must have him back, I will for once 
interfere and help you.” 

She clapped her hands, and on the instant a 
terrible snorting and splashing began in the 
rushes near at hand, and out leaped a little man 
covered from head to foot with scales, like a 
fish, and wearing a long gray beard in which 
seaweed and mosses were tangled. His fiery 
eyes were rolling in his head, and he was grind- 
ing two long teeth like tusks ; but Grretel hardly 
noticed this, for by one hand the Kelpie firmly 
held her brother. 

Hans looked frightened, it is true, and his 
clothes were wet and dripping; but his sister 
flung herself upon him, and sobbed, this time 
for very happiness. 


[ 26 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


“ The precious tears ! ” cried the Nymph in 
great excitement, catching as many as she 
could. “And so rare too. Tears of joy make 
much the most beautiful pearls. Run along, 
Kelpie ! not a word ! You can’t have this boy ; 
I Ve promised him to his sister. But stay ! As 
you go, send hither my water-lily chariot and 
two sea-horses ; I may need them ; ” and the 
angry little monster was forced to obey. 

“ Now,” continued the Nymph, when Gretel 
had grown calmer, “I want these tears also, 
and I ’ll pay well for them. I know your 
errand and all about the Giant’s ruby. With- 
out my help you could never, never find it, and 
you must be both brave and fortunate to bring 
it back, even with my aid. It lies on the top of 
a brazen mountain in the Kingdom of the Fire 
Elves. My sea-horses will bear you safe as far 
as the river that flows on its outskirts. 

“ Once there, think of the Witch’s saying : 

1 The ruby’s fire mounting higher 
Will show the two what they must do.’ 

Here, Gretel, is my girdle. Hold it fast, and 
remember no flame can melt or harm it. You, 
[ 27 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Hans, must help your sister.” She stooped and 
whispered in his ear. u Magic words,” she said, 
“ but be careful ; don’t say them till the time 
comes. Ah! here is my chariot. Jump in!” 
and with a wave of her hand the kind Water 
Nymph cut short the children’s thanks and bade 
them good-bye. 

Hans told Gretel all about his narrow es- 
cape, and the fine promises about the ruby 
that had made him follow the wicked Kelpie. 
It was very pleasant speeding over the smooth 
water, and they had no use for the bulrush 
whip, the sea-horses went so swiftly. By this 
time night had fallen, and by daybreak they 
were in a new country. 

The Water Nymph had, fortunately, thought 
of everything; there was food and to spare in 
a basket of rushes in the chariot, and when the 
sea-horses stopped to munch the tender marsh 
grasses, the children made a hearty meal. 

But now everything began to change. The 
sky was no longer blue overhead, but a kind of 
dull reddish-yellow ; the river grew narrow ; no 
more green and smiling country was to be 
[ 28 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 

seen, but instead, desert waste and hot sandy 
soil. At length the sea-horses stopped and re- 
fused to go farther. Hans and Gretel, there- 
fore, stepped out, not forgetting to take their 
lunch-basket with them. Hearing a strange 
noise, they crouched down in the bushes by 
the side of the stream, while the sea-horses 
reared, plunged, and turning, galloped toward 
home, churning the water to foam with their 
hoofs as they sped onward. 

“The Fire Elves!” whispered Hans, as two 
figures in shining brazen armor passed near by, 
— the flame from their mouths and nostrils crisp- 
ing the herbage about them as they walked. 
Gretel heard them say, “The Giant’s ruby,” 
and pressed her brother’s hand tight in her 
excitement, as both children listened. 

It seemed, from the way the Fire Elves were 
talking, that the King of their country had been 
so delighted with the wonderful jewel that he 
had bought it at a great price from the Gnome 
Queen, who had purchased it in turn from the 
thief who had stolen it. The ruby’s fire had 
been troublesome in the Gnomes’ under-world, 
[ 29 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


and the Queen had hastened to find a customer. 
She had craftily spoken to the Fire King of the 
marvellous beacon the ruby’s flame would be, 
and he had fallen into the trap, and placed the 
gem on the very summit of a great brass moun- 
tain that had been built for it in his dominions. 

Now, at home, in the giant’s ring the magic 
stone glowed with but gentle warmth and radi- 
ance, but here the spell that bound its fires was 
loosed, and the flames from its glowing heart 
grew daily fiercer, nor could they, by any means 
known to the Elves, be quenched. The heat 
from the blazing jewel troubled them also, 
though none dared now ascend the brazen moun- 
tain, for the fire was unlike any other, and if 
the King complained, you may be sure there 
was no lack of grumbling from even his most 
humble subjects. The nights, too, were now as 
bright as day, for the new beacon lit up the 
whole surrounding country ; and this was very 
troublesome. Nobody dared to get the ruby, 
even had one been found brave enough to 
journey with it to the dread Giant’s Castle. 

Thus talking, the Fire Elves passed on, and 
[ 30 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


even as they did so, the sky was lit for miles 
around, and from the summit of the brazen 
mountain in the distance blood-red flames shot 
up. The children gazed in mingled fear and 
wonder, and as they looked upon this wondrous 
sight, the same thought came to both. The 
Witch’s saying! For surely the flames were 
curiously shaped — great scarlet letters against 
the sky. 

“The ruby’s fire mounting higher 
Will show the two what they must do.” 

“Come,” cried Hans, rising to his feet and 
pulling his sister along. “ The ruby calls us; ” 
and without another word they ran straight in 
the direction of the brazen mountain. 

As they approached, the Fire Elves, amazed 
at the strange sight of earth children in such a 
place, drew back to let them pass, and luckily 
held their breaths in wonder. But now the air 
grew hot, and the very ground was burned and 
black beneath their feet. The ruby, though so 
far away, gave out great blasts of heat as from 
a furnace. It was clearly impossible to go on 
further in this manner. 

[ 31 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Hans stopped, and to Gretel’s surprise waved 
his hand in the air three times, repeating, as he 
did so, the charm which the Water Nymph had 
whispered, — 

“Come, veil of mist, and shield us well 
From ruby’s flame and magic spell. 

These words I say, — Air Sprites, obey ! n 

And hardly had he done so when a cool veil of 
gray mist wrapped both the children as in a 
garment, the terrible heat disappeared, and the 
flames fell back from them as they hastened 
onward. 

It was, however, a hard climb up the slippery 
steps cut in the side of the brass mountain, 
though with every step they saw more clearly 
the crimson glow at the summit, and knew that 
there at last would be found the Giant’s ruby, 
— the jewel that was to make them happy, 
rich, and free. 

One more brave effort and the weary children 
were looking straight into its glowing depths. 
But now Hans was at a loss, and so was Gretel. 
How should they carry the wonderful gem? 
The mist still sheltered them, but no mortal 
L32] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


hand could bear the jewel from its resting- 
place. 

So near to victory and now so far away ! 
Hans was in despair, and with tear-dimmed eyes 
Gretel looked longingly at the ruby. What 
was that? Surely the flames were spelling a 
message to her now ! In an instant she grasped 
its meaning. 

The Nymph’s girdle ! How stupid of her not 
to have remembered that fire could not harm it ! 
With trembling fingers the little girl unclasped 
the golden net, and in another instant the thing 
was done. There, safe within its gleaming 
meshes, lay, with now but a smouldering fire in 
its glowing heart, the precious object of their 
toil and journey ings, the Giant’s ruby. 

Hans and Gretel never knew how they came 
down the brazen mountain. As in a dream, they 
saw the Fire Elves crowded about them in their 
sheltering veil of mist, and heard the thanks of 
their grateful King. At his command a boat 
was soon made ready and launched upon the 
river, the silken sails set, and the brother and 
sister invited to come aboard. 

[ 33 ] 


3 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


To Hans the Fire King gave in parting a 
small brown-covered, iron-bound book, and to 
Gretel a pretty housewife with thimble, scissors, 
and needles all complete. Then the boat started, 
and soon a turn in the river hid the barren Fire 
Country from sight. At the same time the veil 
of mist melted away, and the tired children fell 
asleep. 

Jn their dreams it seemed as though the 
Water Nymph bent over them and kissed their 
closed eyelids, and again the wdiite Stork bore 
them swift and sure, as one of her own babies, 
far, far above the green earth, onward and 
homeward. How much was true and how 
much had happened in dreamland only, Hans 
and Gretel would have found hard to say ; but 
it is at least certain that the next thing the chil- 
dren knew, boat and river had alike disappeared, 
and they found themselves once more on the 
outskirts of the mighty forest that surrounded 
the Giant’s Castle. 

Gretel looked fearfully into her golden net, 
but heaved a sigh of relief, for the ruby blinked 
its fiery eye at her in safety. Hans, too, had 

[ 3 *] 



























' 























THE GIANT’S RUBY 


his book, and the housewife was not missing. 
They had hardly taken stock of all these treas- 
ures when, without a sound, the great Owl who 
had first carried them on their journey alighted 
at their feet. “ Time ’s up ! ” said he, and then 
the children knew that the Fire Elves’ Country 
must, indeed, lie far away. 

It was nightfall again when they reached the 
Giant’s Castle, but with what a different feeling 
in their hearts ! 

The Giant, fierce and grim, strode out to meet 
them ; but his quick eye caught the ruby’s glow 
before the wanderers could speak. In a trice it 
was clapped back into its setting in the ring; 
and, having done this, quite a different expres- 
sion came over the Giant’s rugged features. 

“Well, well, well!” he said, smiling. “So 
you two mites have done what even I could not 
accomplish? You,” he said to Hans, “shall 
be Mayor of yonder village ; ” and he waved 
his hand in the direction of the children’s home. 
“And you,” he continued, turning to Gretel, 
“ shall live with your brother and help him to 
rule his people ; while my share of the bargain 
[ 35 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 

shall be all the gold that you two can cany ; ” 
and thus it was. 

Between fear of the Giant, joy at their own 
children’s new-found safety, and wonder at 
the riches that Hans and Gretel brought with 
them, the villagers were quite agreed that all 
should be according to the Giant’s ordering. 
Nor did the worthy townsfolk ever regret their 
choice, — for Hans daily culled from the leaves 
of the Fire Elf King’s book such wisdom as 
befitted a ruler; and as for Gretel, with the 
magic aid of the housewife, she soon became 
Head Dressmaker of the village, and yearly set 
the fashion, — not one, not even the former 
Mayoress, daring in this matter to dispute her 
slightest word. 

The ruby’s Master went at once on a long 
journey, and, so far as I know, never came back. 
The path in the forest gradually closed up for 
lack of travel ; and, should you care to know if 
the Castle be yet standing, you must ask the 
Giant’s Owl to tell you. 


[ 36 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME TOO EARLY 

B EN was a boy who always wanted 
things just a little different from the 
way they were. If his mother gave 
him jam for dessert, he would be apt to com- 
plain because it had n’t £een pie, and when his 
uncle William presented him with a fine new 
bicycle, Ben, I am sorry to tell you, began 
almost at once to say that he wished his wheel 
had been painted red instead of blue. 

So, of course, you will not be surprised when 
I add that Ben found a great deal of fault be- 
cause Christmas did not come earlier. In fact, 
he crumbled so much about it, and talked in 
[ 37 ] 



THE GIANT’S RUBY 


such a silly way, that at last his father lost 
patience with him and sent him upstairs to bed 
without any supper. 

“ I think it ’s mean,” said Ben, as loud as he 
dared, as he went slowly to his room; “if 
Christmas came sooner, I shouldn’t have so 
much school, and, besides, there ? d be lots more 
time to use the new skates that I think mother ’s 
going to buy me.” And he pushed open his 
chamber door. “ I just wish I could fix things 
once,” he added. 

“ Do you ? ” asked a shrill little voice that 
made Ben jump, and he looked about the room 
in amazement. Everything seemed as usual. 
His white iron bed with the coverlid neatly 
turned back, his dressing-gown folded and lying 
on the chair, his fishing-rod in its place in the 
corner, the window — But what was that on the 
window ? Ben did n’t quite know whether to 
go forward and look, or run downstairs; and 
before he had made up his mind, the shrill 
little voice sounded again, — 

“ Don’t be afraid. I ’m a friend of yours, and 
I think just as you do about Christmas. It 
[ 38 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 


certainly ought to be earlier, and I ’ll help you 
to make it so, if you like.” 

Ben could hardly believe his ears. To begin 
with, people didn’t generally agree with him. 
His mother usually said, “ Oh, do run along, 
you foolish boy ! ” and his father was very apt 
to cut short any argument with, 4 1 Not another 
word, my son.” It was very pleasant to hear 
that his idea of the matter had been right, and 
besides the voice came from such a small figure 
perched on the window ledge ; anything so tiny 
could hardly do him any harm. And if this 
queer little object really could help him, what 
fun it would be ; and people would find out that 
some boys knew a great deal more than some 
grown people. 

So, thinking of all these things, Ben came a 
step or two nearer, and took a better look at 
his strange visitor. 

A queer little person he surely was : not over 
a foot high, with a brown skin, twinkling brown 
eyes, and a small, turned-up nose. He was 
dressed in nut-brown doublet and hose, with 
cap and shoes of the same color; so when he 
[ 39 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


said abruptly, in answer to the boy’s question- 
ing look, “ I bn a Brownie,” the name seemed 
just what it should be. 

“ Do you live far from here?” asked Ben 
politely. 

“ Here and there and everywhere,” answered 
the small creature airily. “ I like fun, and I 
go where I wish to get it. I’ve just come this 
morning from the North Pole, and if you mean 
what you say, you shall go back with me there 
to-night.” 

At this Ben’s eyes and mouth opened wide 
with astonishment. 

“ Oh, you need n’t be so surprised,” said the 
Brownie ; “ I can do my part all right, if you’ll 
stick to yours. And you need n’t worry about 
your family, either, for I’ll leave an imitation 
boy in your place, and they ’ll never know the 
difference. He’ll be hollow inside, but your 
mother said the other day at breakfast that she 
thought you must be, and he ’ll grumble at most 
things, about the way you do ; and when you 
come back he ’ll vanish, and you can step right 
into his place.” 


[ 40 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 


“Well,” said Ben, “it sounds pretty good. 
How do we go?” 

“ Right straight through without changes, 
by the new Brownie System. You hold my 
hand and shut your eyes ; I say the word, 
and there you are.” 

“ But I ’d rather go a different way/’ began 
Ben ; but the Brownie interrupted crossly, — 

“That sort of talk may do at home, but it 
won’t do with me. If you want Christmas 
changed, you ’ve got to see Santa Claus ; and if 
you want him, you Ve got to go to the North 
Pole ; and if you go to the North Pole, it ’s got 
to be my way. Take it or leave it ; and be quick 
too. I can’t sit on this window-ledge all night.” 

“ I ’ll take it,” cried Ben hurriedly, for he 
thought it would never do to miss a chance like 
this ; and besides, how envious all the boys at 
school would be when he told them of his 
adventures ! 

u Right you are,” said the Brownie heartily. 
“ Here ’s my hand. Hold tight now. Shut your 
eyes. 6 Rumpletibubble — kinfinysco — Hiohi 
— open your eye ! Presto Change ! ’ ” 

[Id] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


It sounded to Ben like the Home College 
cheer. He hadn’t moved, of course. It was 
all a joke of the Brownie’s, but he opened his 
eyes obediently, however, and then closed them 
quickly, only to open them once more. Could 
he be dreaming? His room had vanished, the 
very village about it had disappeared. He was 
standing at the beginning of a long avenue of 
evergreens, each one hung with tiny candles, 
gold and silver balls, and horns of plenty. 

“ Why, they ’re Christmas trees,” he said 
suddenly. 

“ Of course,” answered the Brownie, who was 
still by his side; a what else did you expect? 
And that house in the distance, at the end of the 
driveway, is Santa Claus’ residence. Now look 
here ; I ’m not going in there, because just now 
we ’ve had a little disagreement. But by and 
by he ’ll come out to feed the reindeer for the 
night, and then you slip in and hide behind 
something. There ’s a big calendar in the work- 
room, and he goes by that. So when he ’s not 
looking, you pull off as many leaves as you like, 
and it will bring Christmas that many days 
[ 42 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 


nearer. When he starts Christmas Eve to de- 
liver goods, you can get in the back of the 
sleigh, and so home again. Good-bye, I ’ve got 
to go now ; ” and before the boy could speak the 
Brownie had vanished. 

It was certainly all a very strange proceeding, 
and Ben felt very lonesome and just a trifle 
frightened in the great silence that followed the 
Brownie’s chatter. Above, the glittering stars 
shone cold and bright, and about him on every 
side stretched, mile upon mile, the snow ; no 
house save one ; no hills ; no trees but those 
before him ; no fences ; nothing like home ; 
only the snow, — for ever and ever the untrod- 
den, pathless snow. 

The most friendly thing in the whole land- 
scape was a beam of light that came from the 
uncurtained window of the house at the end of 
the long double row of Christmas trees, and 
toward this Ben slowly made his way. He 
had hardly reached the shelter of the porch 
when the door opened and a merry round face 
looked out; then, bearing a lighted lantern in 
one hand, Santa Claus himself crossed the 
[ 43 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


threshold. Of course Ben knew him at once, 
as he would have known him anywhere, though 
he had never seen him except in pictures. He 
was short and fat and rosy, with a long white 
beard, a fur-trimmed suit and cap, and great 
high boots for walking through the snow. 

As he passed Ben, never seeing him, he 
began to talk in a jolly kind of voice: u Let’s 
see, let’s see. There’s Donner and Blitzen to 
be fed with the special sea-moss, and Cupid’s off 
shoulder must be rubbed well with liniment. All 
the reindeer must be in good condition, for 
there ’s plenty of work ahead. Plenty of work, 
and that ’s what I like and they like too ; ” and 
with a quiet chuckle Santa Claus disappeared 
around the corner of the house, while Ben 
crept quietly within. 

To be in such a house in such a way ! It 
was enough to turn a boy’s head ; and Ben 
didn’t stop to think how much pleasanter it 
would be to walk up boldly and ask, like a 
man, for shelter, and enter as a guest, than 
thus to sneak in like a thief when Santa Claus’ 
back was turned. I would like to be able to 
f 44 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 


say that Ben felt ashamed ; but the truth is, he 
did n’t stop to think of anything of the kind, so 
curious was he to see this wonderful place and 
the treasures it contained. 

Having stepped across the threshold, the boy 
found himself in a great low-ceilinged room, 
bright and cheery and warm. Across the centre 
of the apartment ran a long work-table, with 
many kinds of tools upon it ready for use. Ben 
also saw lying there a pipe, and a big brass- 
bound book, which happened to be open, and 
which evidently contained the names of chil- 
dren, something about each one, where they 
lived, and what they were to receive on Christ- 
mas Day. The boy turned back to the front 
pages and soon found his own name. He 
had just read a Benjamin Bean : short, strong, 
light hair, pug nose, blue eyes, freckles. First 
cottage to the left on Pine Street. Likes to 
grumble — ” when Santa Claus’ returning steps 
sounded without, and he jumped back so quickly, 
to escape being seen, that he accidentally hit a 
flaxen-haired young lady doll in the chest, and 
she said, “ Ma ! ma ! ” so loudly that the boy 
[ 45 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


turned cold with fright. However, Santa Claus 
did not hear her, but stopped to turn the big key 
in the front door, and Ben had time to crouch 
behind a big pile of newly made drums, and so 
near some freshly painted jumping-jacks that it 
was all he could do to keep from sneezing. 

To his great relief, however, Santa Claus did 
not seem disposed to work any longer that even- 
ing ; for after glancing about to see that all was 
in order, and carefully knocking the ashes from 
his pipe, he slowly climbed up a ladder that led 
to a loft overhead and so through a trap-door, 
which he shut carefully after him. 

Ben could hardly believe his good fortune. 
He waited for a few moments to make sure that 
it was safe to come out, and then he crept quietly 
forth. 

Such heaps and heaps of toys ! What should 
he look at first ? But before he decided, he 
would make sure of the thing he had come so 
far to do, and going to the big calendar that 
hung on one side of the wall, he began to tear 
off the pages with a reckless hand, stopping only 
at December twenty-third. 

[ 46 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 

Then such a night as followed! No boy 
could be sleepy in a room like that, and Ben 
was wide enough awake, I can tell you. He 
ran a beautifully made engine up and down a 
line of tracks and in and out of the engine house, 
till he was tired ; then a full-rigged ship caught 
his eye ; and a marvellous game with marbles ; 
and mounted horsemen who rang tiny bells as 
they leaped little fences kept him busy for 
quite an hour. I cannot, in fact, begin to tell 
you all that Ben found by turns interesting 
and amusing. 

There were many things there, of course, that, 
being a boy, he passed by without a second 
glance, — things that would have made a little 
girl wild with delight: dolls that talked and 
walked and danced, baby dolls, queen dolls, 
nurses, Bed-Riding-Hoods, and so on with 
amazing and delightful variety; doll houses 
completely furnished ; toy cook-stoves with pots, 
pans, and kettles ; necklaces ; rings ; bracelets ; 
and, of course, a great variety of toys for both 
girls and boys of younger growth, — Noah's 
Arks ; animals that squeaked and growled ; fishes 
[ 47 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


that floated; trumpets; roly-polys; rattles; — 
it was enough to make your head swim. 

Ben saw just the kind of football his soul 
yearned for, and a bicycle superior to any in the 
village ; and there were kites of curious forms, 
and self-cocking air-guns and other guns of 
different styles, so that he felt very much like 
the donkey between two bales of hay, and asked 
himself a dozen times which should he take 
first. 

But even a night like this must have an end, 
and Santa Claus is an early riser. The morning 
light began to stream into the uncurtained win- 
dows, and Ben reluctantly took off the police- 
man’s helmet which he had just donned, and 
carefully avoiding the young lady who said 
“ Ma ! ma ! ” sought his hiding-place, having 
first provided himself with a generous slice of 
bread and cheese which he had found with other 
eatables in a corner cupboard. And none too 
soon, for at that very moment the trap-door 
above opened, and Santa Claus’ ruddy face 
looked through. Another instant, and the Chil- 
dren’s Saint was descending the ladder. 

[ 48 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 


Ben had been careful to replace the toys as 
nearly as possible in the order he had found 
them, and Santa Claus evidently saw nothing 
wrong, for after a hasty glance he stepped over 
to the calendar. Here he stood stock still, and 
a puzzled, worried look overspread his usually 
merry countenance. Ben watched him closely, 
hardly daring to breathe; and he saw Santa 
Claus take a pair of iron-bowed spectacles from 
a shelf, wipe the glasses carefully, and again 
look at the calendar. 

“ Bless my soul ! ” he said at length. “ How 
could I have made such a mistake? Nineteen 
hundred Christmases, and never the like before ! 
I Ve missed a whole month somehow, and here, 
instead of the twenty- third of November, it *s 
December twenty-third. Bless my soul, bless 
my soul, whatever shall I do ? ” And the dear 
old Saint looked so disturbed and saddened 
that Ben’s graceless heart gave a throb of sym- 
pathy, and its owner even began to be a little 
ashamed of the part he had taken. 

“ Well, well,” went on Santa Claus briskly, 
“no good loitering here. I’ve got to do my 
4 [ 49 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


best, that ’s all, and the reindeer will have to do 
their best. To-morrow I ’ll pull that rope that 
sets the Christmas bells ringing for Christmas 
Eve, and I ’ll have to pack up as usual, and do 
all I can not to disappoint the children.” 

So saying, the good old Saint trudged out 
into the snow to feed his reindeer; and Ben, 
watching his chance, snatched a hasty store of 
provisions for the day from the cupboard, and 
a bottle of water with which to quench his 
thirst. 

In a few moments back came Santa Claus, 
and then began such a scene as the waiting boy 
had never before beheld. Hardly pausing for 
breath, Santa Claus worked at his toys, ham- 
mering, painting, pasting ; and at last Ben, worn 
out after his journey and his night’s excitement, 
curled up and went to sleep. But there was no 
sleep for Santa Claus. All night long he 
toiled, and the dawn of the supposed twenty- 
fourth found him busily packing up for his 
annual journey. 

The green paint came off a monkey he was 
putting in, and stuck all over a woolly lamb. 

[ 50 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 


The paste had n’t had time to harden on the last 
lot of paper dolls, so that parts of their pretty 
tissue-paper dresses got rubbed off. In his 
haste Santa Claus strapped several wrong sizes 
of skates together, such as a No. 3 for one foot 
with a No. 5 for the other; and on consulting 
his list, he found, when it was too late to change 
things, that it was Tommy Jones that wanted 
the accordion, and not Sammy Smith, as he had 
thought. In another family Aunt Maria got a 
tool chest intended for her nephew, and he got 
a fine new pair of gold-bowed spectacles. Cer- 
tainly some things did get mixed, but it was 
pretty hard for one pair of hands to do in 
two days’ time the work of a whole month, 
and even Santa Claus could not fix everything 
just as it should be. It was very sad, as it was, 
to see the dear old Saint try to make the toys 
go round ; for of course there were some orders 
unfilled, and it nearly broke his heart to think 
of the thin stockings and sparely hung Christmas 
trees that must needs be the following morning. 
“ If there ’s any one thing that I like better than 
another, it’s a good fat stocking,” he murmured, 
[ 51 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


as he flung the last lot of Christmas gifts into his 
pack and turned to go out. 

Ben got up and followed silently, keeping as 
much in the shadow as possible, and was able 
to slip into the sleigh and conceal himself under 
the big fur robe without Santa Claus knowing 
anything about it. The night was clear and 
cold, the reindeer stamped their feet impatient 
to be gone, and the bells on the harness jingled 
as they moved. Santa Claus put the pack care- 
fully into the sleigh, and then jumped in him- 
self. One crack of the whip, and away they 
sped down the long avenue of evergreens, and 
straight on across the untrodden waste of snow. 

To go back to every-day life and people: 
you can fancy for yourself the wonder felt by 
all when on what was supposed to be the 
twenty-fourth of November the Christmas bells 
began to ring. Of course, nobody thought for 
a moment that Santa Claus had made a mis- 
take: that seemed clearly impossible, and in 
all the towns and throughout the country-side 
the people simply hurried and scurried, and 
[ 52 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 


racked their brains, and tried to make the best 
of things and get ready, all in a moment as it 
were, for Christmas. 

Ben would have been sorely disappointed at 
the success of his venture had he heard what 
people said, and how much disappointment in- 
stead of pleasure his thoughtless act had caused. 
He was to know soon enough, as you shall hear, 
but just now I want you to learn something of 
the distress and confusion that at once beset the 
land. It reached all classes of people, from the 
King, who was planning to give the Queen a 
surprise in the shape of a new crown, to little 
Sally in her garret chamber, patiently trying 
to finish a new pair of reins for her small 
brother. 

Nobody had their gifts in readiness, — that is, 
but few did, — and even the cooks had n’t their 
mince-pies baked and their turkeys stuffed ; no- 
body’s house was hung with holiday wreaths, 
and none of the candy-shops had those fascinat- 
ing barley animals or other sweet stuff that comes 
expressly for this one great feast of the year. 
The small boys were particularly angry, be- 
[ 53 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


cause they had lost Thanksgiving Day, and 
people went about with careworn and even 
cross faces, instead of the usual jolly Christmas 
Eve expression. 

Christinas Day itself was hardly better. 
Santa Claus had done his best, as we know; 
but when he listened down the chimney early 
in the morning, as was his invariable habit, he 
heard as many words of disappointment as he 
did cries of pleasure. Some small people even 
sobbed aloud, — for what little girl wants a jack- 
knife, and what boy of thirteen a woolly lamb 
that baas ? Luckily Santa Claus’ hair was white 
already, or all this trouble would have turned 
it so. 

And what about Ben all this while? Still 
smuggled under the great fur robe in the sleigh, 
he peeped out without being seen, as after each 
second trip to the housetops Santa Claus’ face 
grew sadder and sadder, until at last, when the 
dear old Saint began to talk to himself about 
the matter, and blame himself severely for losing 
a whole month by sheer carelessness and absence 
of mind, — for so he put it, — the boy could stand 
[ 54 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 


it no longer. With trembling fingers he threw 
aside the robe, and hardly noticing Santa Claus’ 
start of surprise, he plunged into the truthful 
recital of all that he had done, and never 
stopped till the whole story was out. 

As he talked, the rosy face of his hearer grew 
grave, but it was evident too that Ben’s manly 
confession of his naughtiness had not been lost 
on one who is ever the children’s friend. 

“ Never has mortal boy before so much as 
seen my sleigh or the tip of a single reindeer’s 
horn,’’ said Santa Claus, after a moment’s pause, 
when Ben at last had told his tale ; “ and think 
now what trouble and sorrow you have brought 
to trusting hearts all over this wide earth, and 
how many little hands are empty through 
your fault. But you are sorry for your act, 
and you shall have a chance to make amends. 
The trouble you have caused me I forgive 
freely, but it is not mine to forgive you for 
spoiling the children’s jideasure and the happi- 
ness of all who love Christmas. You must go 
to-night to the Snow Queen, and she shall de- 
cide your punishment. If you do her bidding 
[ 55 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


well, on the real Christmas Eve, a month from 
hence, I will myself bring you back to your 
home, and leave you there a happy boy. 

“ As for these poor people so sadly cheated 
of their joy, I will, after you have gone to the 
Snow Queen, sprinkle about in each household 
a magic powder, so that some shall never re- 
member what has just happened, and those that 
do will think it all a dream. I will collect the 
toys and the other gifts I have just left, and the 
real Christmas on the right day will be, I hope, 
as bright and beautiful and glad as any I have 
ever seen. 

“ As for the Brownie who led you into all this 
trouble, he must pay the penalty. He shall go 
to prison for a year, — a Jack-in-the-box he shall 
be, — and I hope the chance to be silent and to 
think will make him less ready for mischief.” 
So saying, Santa Claus again turned his rein- 
deer’s heads to the North, and at the word of 
command they sped homeward. 

Ben did not know what lay before him, but in 
spite of his fears his heart was lighter than it had 
been on the journey down, for he felt that at last 
[ 56 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 


he had done the right thing, and that Santa 
Claus would not let the Snow Queen give him 
any task above his strength. 

After leaving the thickly settled districts and 
on through outlying hamlets, the reindeer took 
that wonderful pace that is at once so even and 
so swift, and which enables their master to visit 
all those thousands of firesides before cock-crow 
every Christmas morn ; but when they reached 
the avenue of evergreens that led to Santa 
Claus’ home, they did not slacken their speed, 
for they had still some miles to go toward the 
frozen North, where the wonderful palace of the 
Snow Queen was standing. 

Ben could now see its frosty towers and 
sparkling roof in the distance, and at last tall 
gates of ice barred their way. The sleigh 
stopped. Ben had hardly time to gaze upon 
the curious forms of men, animals, and flowers 
that decorated the massive structure, when sen- 
tinels clad in dazzling armor swung wide the 
fretted doors, and bowing low, received the 
command with which Santa Claus gave up 
his captive to their keeping. Without a word 
[ 57 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Ben too was clad from head to foot in a shining 
snow-white s.uit, for without such protection lie 
would have perished, slain by the first icy 
breath from the Snow Queen’s domain. 

Santa Claus bade him farewell, the reindeer 
started, and after one wistful glance, Ben fol- 
lowed his silent guards through the gates, and 
they closed heavily behind him. 

Under a long line of frozen arches, hung with 
lamps in which a blue light burned, the boy 
was led, and so on and on, up the great ice 
stairs of the Palace, through silent white halls, 
and at last into the presence of the Queen. 

The royal lady was clad in dazzling white, 
and the gaze of her cold blue eyes seemed to 
pierce Ben through and through. He saw, as 
if in a dream, her glittering diamond crown ; 
the snowy veil that covered her hair, dark as 
a storm cloud ; the wonderful throne of carved 
ice upon which she sat; the columns covered 
with beautiful and strange frost tracery, that held 
up the ceiling of the great Hall ; the motionless 
rows of maids and men-at-arms : all, all in white 
like their dread mistress. 

[ 58 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 


Then the Snow Queen spoke, and her voice 
made him think of falling icicles, and of the 
miles and miles of frozen, barren country over 
which he had just come. It made his very 
blood, too, run chill and slow in his veins ; and 
it was with a sigh of relief that he obeyed the 
silent wave of her hand, commanding him to 
follow the waiting guard, and so to his first task. 

This time the scene changed. The country 
all about was still cold and bound with the iron 
grip of never-ending Winter ; but at a little dis- 
tance the boy saw a snow hut, with openings 
for doors and windows, and much like the huts 
Ben used to build at home, only many times 
larger. 

“ Here,” said the guide, speaking for the first 
time, “ here is the home of the Great-Grand- 
mother of the Polar Bears. You must obey her 
as you would the Snow Queen herself. On your 
faithfulness much depends.” 

They reached, as he spoke, the door of the 
hut. “My Sovereign sends this boy,” he said 
through the opening, pushing Ben within as 
he spoke. “ His life is under the royal pro- 
[ 59 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


tection, but his services are yours to do with as 
you wish. When the moon changes, I will call 
for him and bear to my mistress the report of 
his conduct.” 

From the glare without to the half darkness 
within was such a change that for a moment 
Ben could see little but a tumbling mass of 
white that rolled about on the floor of the hut. 
His ears, however, were greeted instantly with 
a sharp chorus of yelps and growls, and he 
shrank back, not knowing what was to come 
next. But a gruff voice bade him draw nearer, 
and he was now able to see that the squirming 
thing at his feet was really three or four little 
Bears, rolling over and over, and biting and 
cuffing one another, half in frolic and half in 
anger. The yelps and growls came from them, 
but the big voice of command proceeded from 
an immense yellow-white She-Bear, who reclined 
on a block of ice at one side of the hut. 

And now began such a life as Ben had never 
even faintly imagined. He was, to all intents 
and purposes, to play nurse to four quarrel- 
some young Bears, and to please as best he 
[ 60 J 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 


could their cross old Great-Grandmother, who, 
in her way, was even harder to suit than the 
youngsters. 

“ Bluff,” the eldest of the three brothers, was 
fond of being pushed about on a cake of ice on 
the unfrozen water near the hut, and it was 
lucky Ben was a strong boy for his age, for it 
was no light task, shoving around a young 
Bear of this size, as I can tell you. 

“ Tough,” the second brother, was always 
fighting, and had to be continually pulled out 
of trouble by the tip of his tail ; and this, too, 
was no easy matter. 

u Squealeow,” their baby sister, was forever 
whining, no matter how hard Ben tried to 
please her ; and perhaps, after all, she was the one 
who had most to do with changing the boy for 
the better, for Ben soon got so sick and tired of 
hearing her grumble that he made up his mind 
never again to do the same himself. 

There remained but one other little Bear, and 
he was called “ Grip ; ” and a good name it was 
for him, for he was so selfish that he always 
managed to get the largest piece of blubber at 
[ 61 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


meals, and was always trying to turn his brothers 
and sisters out of the coldest corner at night. 

As for the Great-Grandmother, she was very 
particular about her coat, and the thing that 
Ben disliked most of all was to stand by the 
hour and comb out the snarls that would get, 
for all his pains, in her long yellow- white 
fur. 

He learned a number of things here, however, 
that were amazingly useful afterward. For one 
thing, to mind when he was first spoken to ; and 
for another, not to answer back ; for the old She- 
Bear was as ready with her paw as with her 
tongue, and Ben was often knocked off his feet, 
end over end, head first into the snow. It 
didn’t hurt particularly, but it was very dis- 
agreeable, and he soon found that the Great- 
Grandmother of the Bears was far more likely 
to keep her temper when he succeeded in keep- 
ing his ; and after that things went more smoothly. 

He was not sorry, however, when the moon 
changed, and the guard, having received a pretty 
good report of his conduct, led him once more 
into the presence of the Snow Queen. 

[ 62 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 


This time his task was to bring* a perfect 
diamond necklace to his royal mistress, and he 
was told how to do so, led to the proper place, 
and there left alone. 

u On Christmas Eve I will seek you here,” 
said the guard, “ and if your task is finished, 
you will be set without the gates and free once 
more. Should you fail, another year awaits 
you within the Snow Queen’s Kingdom.” 

Ben now found himself in the royal garden, 
and the sight that met his eyes was more strange 
and beautiful than anything he had yet seen. 
Everything here, as elsewhere, was white, but 
with a soft, shimmering whiteness, quite unlike 
the cold, steely glitter of the Palace. 

Out of the pure snow that lined the garden 
walk grew countless beautiful flowers : stately 
lilies and white roses ; and in one special bed, 
a clump of priceless edelweiss. It was these 
blossoms that he was to watch with patience, 
for at midnight a single drop of dew would fall 
into the flower’s heart ; at that instant the North- 
ern Lights would flash, and their shimmering 
glory be imprisoned within the drop of dew. 

[ 63 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Then it was Ben’s task to pluck the flower, and 
if he did so at the right moment, the drop in its 
centre would harden and turn into a perfect 
diamond. This would happen for twelve nights, 
and Ben knew he must be constant and not fail 
to tend all the Queen’s flowers carefully, espe- 
cially the edelweiss, so that the white blossoms 
would stand upright on their stems and not 
droop from lack of care. 

Great birds with snowy plumage preened 
their feathers on the ice-bound branches of the 
trees in the garden, and butterflies with silvery 
wings floated from flower to flower ; and when 
night came, the moon rose high in the heavens, 
and the stars blazed with a glory unknown to 
other climes. 

In its way, this work was as hard as the 
other, for here the silence was unbroken, and 
for all its loveliness Ben found the garden very, 
very lonely. He was tired, too, though not 
hungry, for in the Snow Queen’s Kingdom 
people rarely need to eat ; but Ben did want to 
sleep, and yet he dared not, at least until every 
task was done and the midnight hour had 
[ 64 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 


struck, when the weary lad would pillow his 
head upon the snow and snatch a few hours’ 
longed-for rest. 

Eleven nights had come and gone, and eleven 
perfect diamonds had crowned his work. But 
one more was needed, and then home ! How 
his heart ached at the word; how much he 
wanted his mother s arms, and how he wdshed 
for his father’s voice and the merry voices of his 
brothers and sister ! And his little white bed — 
I ’m afraid it was thinking of that which made 
poor Ben’s eyes so strangely heavy. At any 
rate, the silver chimes in the royal tower pealed 
once and again without the gardener’s knowl- 
edge. Ten o’clock, eleven o’clock — Ben heard 
them not, for he was fast asleep. Swift and 
sure came the midnight hour. “ One ! two ! 
three ! four ! ” pealed the bells, and the Northern 
Lights flashed in the heavens. “ Five ! six ! 
seven ! eight ! ” One bright ray struck sharp on 
the boy’s closed eyelids. “ Nine ! ten ! ” Ben 
opened his bewildered eyes and sat up. 
“ Eleven ! twelve ! ” — but at the last stroke 
his hand closed as by instinct over the last 
5 [ 65 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


unplucked edelweiss, and the twelfth diamond 
rolled upon the ground at his feet. 

At the same moment the voice of the guard 
rang in his ears : u Twelve perfect stones ! Well 
done. I bring the Queen’s dismissal. You are 
free ; ” and Ben found himself hurried along 
through a maze of walks, out under the arches 
of the entrance, and so through the great carved 
gates of ice, which slowly closed behind him, the 
man-at-arms having taken from him the suit that 
he had worn on first entering those same portals. 

He was alone, quite alone, with the Snow 
Queen’s Kingdom at his back, and before him 
hundreds of miles of ice-bound country. His 
heart sank. Had Santa Claus forgotten him? 
Was he to be left to perish thus, just as he 
had earned forgiveness for his fault? 

But now, as if in answer to the thought, a 
tiny mouse-like train appeared in the distance, 
and the faint sound of bells was borne upon the 
air. Swiftly the sleigh approached, and in a 
brief space Santa Claus had caught the shiver- 
ing boy in his arms, had tucked him well up 
under the big fur robe, and saying, “I go to- 
[ 66 ] 


WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 

night, my brave Ben, to your home first,” had 
turned the willing reindeer in that direction. 

Again the boy’s lids were heavy, and now 
there was naught for which he must waken. 
He felt safe and warm and happy, and the 
sleigh-bells kept saying in a delightful jingle, 
“Home again, home again,” and by and by, 
“ Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas.” 

He opened his eyes and rubbed them. 

“Well, of all the sleepy boys!” said his 
mother’s voice ; and there he was, safe and 
sound in his little white bed, while about him 
danced his brothers and sister, each with a fat 
stocking clasped tight in their hands ; while his 
father in dressing-gown and slippers, and rather 
sleepy though still smiling, stood pointing to a 
similar stocking that hung from the fireplace 
opposite. 

After that it did not take Ben long to wake 
up. And the list of treasures that were waiting 
for him was almost as surprising as the adven- 
tures through which he had just passed ; and 
the grateful joy with which he received them, 
[ 67 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


without one single word of fault-finding, was 
more wonderful yet to his father and mother, 
who, of course, did not know about all these 
strange happenings. 

A little later Ben counted his gifts once more, 
— the promised skates from his mother; a double- 
runner with “ The Crimson Flyer ” on it, from 
his father ; a purple worsted muffler from Aunt 
Maria, who believed only in presents that were 
useful; a double-barrelled rifle from Uncle Will, 
who didn’t mind danger if only the children 
were happy; a box of home-made taffy from 
Sister Mary ; a bank and a book from his two 
brothers. 

Yes ; and what was that at the very toe of his 
stocking ? Ben held it up to the wondering eyes 
of his family : a jack-knife, — the most complete 
thing of its kind, with two blades, a corkscrew, 
a pair of scissors, and a gimlet, and attached to 
it a piece of paper, on which was written — 

“ With the Compliments of Santa Claus.” 

“A joke of Uncle Will’s,” said his father, 
laughing; but Ben knew better. 

[ 68 ] 



Ill 

THE PRINCE OF THE SILVER SHIELD 


O NCE upon a time there lived a King 
who had an only son named Rolf, 
and surnamed Strong-Arm, so skilled 
was he in every manly sport. To a youth of 
this temper, Court life seemed very dull. His 
royal father was an old, old man, and so long 
as the Head Cook put the right amount of salt 
in his porridge, and no roistering pages dis- 
turbed with their gambols the Palace quiet at 
nap-time, the aged monarch was perfectly satis- 
fied. Not so Prince Strong-Arm. He eagerly 
listened to all the tales of danger and adventure 
[ 69 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


that the Story-Teller-in-Ordinary could relate, 
and he longed with all his heart for something 
more .exciting than a gallop on the plains, sur- 
rounded by a watchful body-guard, or a 
tournament in the Palace courtyard, where 
politeness and respect for royalty made each 
opponent yield all too readily the palm of 
victory. 

At last he became so impatient, and begged 
his father so hard for permission to set forth on 
his travels, that the old King, quite worn out 
by his repeated requests, granted him at last the 
wished-for leave of absence, making, however, 
one condition. This was that Rolf would take 
with him the Silver Shield that hung in the 
royal armory, and which was accounted so 
great a treasure that a soldier with drawn 
sword was stationed day and night before it. 
A fairy of importance had given it many years 
before to the grandfather of the present mon- 
arch ; it was therefore a magic Shield, and its 
usefulness was this : kept bright and shining 
like a mirror, it would, at the owner’s command, 
faithfully reflect the face of friend and foe. If 
[ 70 ] 


PRINCE OF THE SILVER SHIELD 


a traitor to the King should be forced to gaze 
into its depths, his villany would at once be 
plainly seen mirrored in the shining surface 
of the Silver Shield. If a beautiful but wicked 
woman looked therein, her loveliness would not 
be reflected, as in an ordinary glass, but an old 
hag would stare back at her, mocking her rage 
at the unexpected sight. On the other hand, a 
beggar hunchback, with a clean and loving 
heart, would appear like a handsome Prince. 
In a word, it showed people just as they really 
were. Of course, to make the Shield do this it 
was necessary to keep it spotless and bright, as 
I have said, and the owner also had to repeat 
the fairy rhyme, — 

“Come, Shield of mine, and plainly show 
True face of friend and face of foe,” 

just before the person on whom the magic was 
tried should look upon its polished surface. 

Rolf made no objection to taking this parting 
gift from his father; but it was the beauty of 
the wrought silver and the strength of the 
moulded metal that chiefly pleased him, for, 
like most young people, he felt quite equal to 

[ 71 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


finding out for liimself the difference between 
what was bad and what was good, without any 
aid whatsoever, magical or otherwise. 

But the wise old King had great faith in the 
fairy’s gift, and he knew his son’s headlong 
nature too well not to be rejoiced that he had 
been able to bestow upon him this special piece 
of armor. 

Prince Rolf could hardly wait to kiss his 
royal father’s hand at parting, and bid fare- 
well to the various officials of the Court. He 
was quite ready for anything, except the dull 
round of quiet life that he was leaving. He 
cared not if hunger and cold were to be his por- 
tion, and as for danger the mere thought 
had power to make his pulse beat high with 
hope. He felt really sad because some days 
must needs go by before anything of moment 
was likely to happen. His father’s kingdom 
was altogether too well governed to allow of 
dragons, ogres, giants, or monsters of any kind 
within its boundaries. The only double-headed 
unicorn ever seen there had been slain long ago 
by the hand of his great-great-grandfather, and 
[ 72 ] 


PRINCE OF THE SILVER SHIELD 


the huge curved tusks of the last man-eating boar 
hung over the sideboard in the royal dining- 
room in the home Palace. 

As he rather dolefully pondered on all these 
things, his horse’s hoof hit something that lay 
half hidden in the dirt of the highway. It 
shone bright in the sunlight, and the Prince, 
dismounting, saw that it was a large gold locket. 
Curious to behold what might be within, he 
finally found the secret spring, and it fell open, 
revealing the painted picture of a young and 
beautiful maiden, with dusky hair, and eyes 
dark as midnight. Her red lips seemed to 
smile welcome upon him, and about the outer 
edge of the portrait was graven curious letter- 
ing, which the Prince slowly spelled out, finding 
at last that it ran in this wise, — 

“ Wouldst love me best? Ride to the west. 

Should such love cease ? Ride to the east. 

Safety behind. Danger before. 

Prince, beware, lest you ride no more.” 

There was one rather curious thing about the 
way in which all this was written. The first 
line was beautifully and deeply engraved and 
[ 73 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


could be most easily read, but the last three 
lines looked as though they had been hastily 
scratched with a pin or some such instrument, 
aud Prince Strong-Arm had some trouble in 
making out their sense. However, he finally 
did so ; and the double promise of beauty and 
danger made him turn his horse’s head at once 
to the west, and as he rode, he often drew the 
locket from next his heart and gazed upon the 
portrait of the beautiful maiden. He felt himself 
already in love with her, and his thoughts 
roamed like busy bees collecting honey ; for he 
dreamed of adventure in her service and of the 
rich reward of her love in return, should he 
show himself worthy of the honor. 

So for several days the Prince pressed onward, 
and art last, one morning, he beheld the glitter- 
ing roofs and turrets of a beautiful Palace, still 
many miles distant. As he neared it, an old 
Wood-cutter by the roadside called to him : 
“ Whither dost your Lordship ride ? ” 

Rolf pulled out his treasured picture and 
let the dim eyes of the old man rest upon 
it. 


[ 74 ] 


PRINCE OF THE SILVER SHIELD 

“ Does this fair maiden live in yonder Cas- 
tle ? ” he asked. 

“Yes/’ answered the Wood-cutter, “the 
Lady Nightshade dwells there; hut, alas! I 
have seen many likely youths ride hither, and 
as yet none have returned.” 

“A maid so beautiful must indeed have 
suitors,” said the Prince, and dropping a gold 
piece into the old man’s cap, he spurred his 
horse forward. 

On the steps of the Palace the damsel her- 
self met him, and her loveliness was so great 
that Rolfs heart was as wax within his breast. 

“ The picture is not half so fair,” he stam- 
mered, hardly knowing what he said, and he 
showed her the locket. 

“ Ah ! my lost portrait ! ” she exclaimed, as 
if in surprise ; but her face darkened as she read 
the last three lines of the rhyme engraved upon 
it. “ What nonsense is this ? ” she asked harshly. 

“Indeed, I know not,” replied the Prince. 
“I only know that I have come westward as 
fast as my steed could carry me, and that I have 
found the most beautiful Lady in all the world.” 

[ 75 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


At this the maiden’s brow smoothed once 
more, and with words of welcome she bade her 
visitor dismount, called servants to show him 
to his apartments and to lead away his horse, 
as, saying that she would see him again at the 
banquet that evening, she left him. 

As the Prince turned to follow her into the 
Palace, he brushed against a ragged Kitchen 
Maid, who stood among the crowd of assembled 
lackeys. Rolf raised his cap politely and 
begged her pardon, for he would not willingly 
have been rude to any one. The Kitchen Maid 
opened her lips to reply, but on the instant a 
hand pulled her roughly back, and the Groom 
of the Chambers at that moment requesting the 
Prince to proceed, Rolf went onward and soon 
forgot all about the matter. 

That night the Lady Nightshade gave a mag- 
nificent supper, and never had the Prince seen 
anything half so fine, even at the State banquets 
in his father’s kingdom. The dishes were of 
gold, and the goblets were rimmed with precious 
stones. Soft rose-colored* light fell all about, 
and the table was strewn with flowers. Sweet 
[ 76 ] 


PRINCE OF THE SILVER SHIELD 


strains of music came from some hidden corner ; 
gorgeous attendants in orange velvet waited 
silently at hand, and the pastry and cakes were 
in the most wonderful forms, and so cunningly 
fashioned into the likenesses of dragons, sea- 
horses, serpents, and other such monsters, that 
Rolf almost clapped his hand to his sword as 
they were borne into the Banquet Hall. 

The Prince sat in a carved chair at one end of 
the room, and opposite him on a pile of silken 
cushions reclined his hostess. Her dark hair 
was caught with a diamond fillet, her white robe 
was encrusted with pearls, and her girdle was a 
flashing mass of jewels, even her sandals were 
sewn with rubies ; and as for the Lady herself, 
the Prince felt that it would be bliss enough to 
die at her bidding. 

Perhaps Nightshade read his thoughts ; at any 
rate, she rose slowly from her couch, and bid- 
ding Rolf follow, betook herself to another 
room. This was a picture gallery, and it was 
filled with the portraits of many comely youths. 
One frame alone stood empty, and the Lady 
Nightshade went on to explain that all these 
[ 77 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


were pictures of noble knights and princes who 
had sought her hand in marriage, but who had 
failed in some adventure they had undertaken 
in her service. 

“ But you,” she said, turning to the Prince, 
“ are far stronger and braver than any here, and 
to-morrow you shall slay the Hyptogriff.” 

“ And this empty frame ? ” asked Rolf. 

“ Should you die in the battle, which of 
course I know will not happen, your portrait 
will complete the number ; ” and she gazed so 
bewitchingly at the foolish youth that he did 
not see the cruel joy that gleamed for an instant 
from her eyes. 

Rolf went to his apartment with heart and 
brain awhirl. At midnight a soft voice singing 
without awoke him, and he heard faintly 
repeated, — 

“ Should such love cease ? Ride to the east. 

Safety behind. Danger before. 

Prince, beware, Ifest you ride no more.” 

Rolf sprang to his feet and looked out, but 
could see or hear nothing further, and thinking 
it all a dream, he slept again. 

[ 78 ] 


PRINCE OF THE SILVER SHIELD 


In the morning* he started for a walk through 
the garden. As he did so, he saw crouching 
among the rosebushes the gray-clad figure of 
the Kitchen Maid. As he advanced, she pulled 
up her sleeve, and showed Rolf a bruise on the 
white skin, saying reproachfully at the same 
time, “ See, Prince, what I have borne for your 
sake.” 

Rolf was about to question her when the 
lady of his love appeared, and frowning, bade 
the Kitchen Maid begone. “ She is a poor 
half-witted wench,” she said, “ whom I have 
kindly fed and sheltered. Pay no heed, I pray 
you, to her complaints. And now, before you 
set forth on your adventure, will you not give 
me your Silver Shield for safe keeping ? ” 

“ It is very rusty,” said Rolf, hesitating, “for 
indeed I have thought so much about you and 
your beauty that I have neglected to keep it 
bright.” 

“ Never mind,” Nightshade answered smiling, 
“ I like it better so. When will you give it to 
me?” 

“ At once,” Rolf replied ; for he did not stop 
[ 79 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


to think that this was a strange request, since 
surely a man about to do battle needs all his 
armor. 

Indeed, he was so bewitched with his enchant- 
ress that he was quite provoked at not being 
able to find the Silver Shield, that he might 
give it to her. Search he did through all his 
belongings, but with no result save that Night- 
shade seemed very angry at the loss, and quite 
coldly bade him ride westward, where a mile or 
two hence the Hyptogriff would be found. 

The Prince obeyed at once ; but Nightshade’s 
harshness had made him so sad that a voice by 
the roadside had to call twice before he heard 
and reined in his horse. There again he beheld 
the Kitchen Maid, and this time she reached out 
to him a tiny ash cake. 

“ I made it myself, Strong-Arm,” she said ; 

“ will you not eat it to please me ? ” 

Now Rolf was very kind-hearted if he was 
rather reckless and foolish; so as he did not 
want to hurt the poor creature’s feelings, he 
readily assented. As soon as he had done so, 
a marvellous change came over him. New ^ 
[ 80 ] 


PRINCE OF THE SILVER SHIELD 

strength seemed to flow through his veins ; his 
muscles felt like steel and his heart grew light 
once more. He turned to speak to the Kitchen 
Maid, but she had disappeared, and he heard at 
that moment the angry bellowing of his enemy. 

The Hyptogriff was a terrible monster. It 
had three heads shaped like a bulks joined to 
one neck that twisted and turned like a snake. 
Its great feet were armed with long and savage 
claws, and its tail was hard as iron and tipped 
with a sharp arrow-headed point. 

When it saw the Prince, its rage knew no 
bounds. It stamped and tore up the earth all 
about, and rushed upon him. Rolf’s horse was 
snorting with fear; so he lightly leaped from his 
back, and ran behind a sheltering tree. 

The Hyptogriff, stupid with rage, charged 
straight upon him, and striking the oak with 
one of its great heads, stuck the horns so 
far into the wood that it could not free it- 
self. Rolf lost no time, but avoiding the fatal 
sweep of the monster’s tail, succeeded in cut- 
ting off one of the Hyptogriff’s free heads. 

The monster now pawed the ground with 

e [ 81 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


added fury, and one of its terrible claws ripped 
the tunic from the Prince’s back, and inflicted 
a slight wound. 

But Strong-Arm had not won his name 
for nothing, and watching his chance, with 
another mighty blow he severed the crea- 
ture’s second head ; but, alas ! the Hyptogriff 
now was free, for unfortunately Rolf had 
made the mistake of cutting off the head 
whose horns had been fastened in the oak. 
The Hyptogriff at once lowered its third head, 
and charged. 

The Prince was in the open, with no friendly 
shelter near. There was but one thing to do, 
and less than an instant in which to do it ; 
but the little ash cake had given him wonder- 
ful strength, and as thd fatal moment came, he 
seized the monster by the horns, and twisting 
its head by main strength to one side, inflicted 
a mortal wound with a sudden stroke of his 
sword ; but not quite unharmed, for the Hypto- 
griff in its last struggle struck the Prince a 
glancing blow with its lance-like tail, and Rolf 
staggered back upon the trampled earth. 

[ 82 ] 


PRINCE OF THE SILVER SHIELD 


When he again opened his eyes, the sun was 
setting, the cool evening breeze was blowing, 
and the Kitchen Maid knelt weeping by his 
side, bathing his hot forehead with cool water 
from a neighboring brook. The Hyptogriff 
was stretched in death at a little distance ; and 
as the Prince looked up, still dazed from the 
monsters parting blow, a big black raven 
suddenly appeared, winging its way heavily 
to where he was lying. 

u I must go,” whispered the Kitchen Maid 
hurriedly ; “ but promise to kill that raven if you 
can,” and before she sped away she placed a 
stone in his hand. Hardly knowing what he 
did, Rolf took aim; but his strength was not 
yet returned, and only a few black feathers 
floated down as the great bird flew sullenly 
into the distance. 

After a little the Prince got up, and finding 
his horse, rode slowly back to the Palace. 
Here he was greeted by the Lady Nightshade, 
and his own hurts were forgotten when he saw 
that one of her fingers was bandaged. a I 
pricked it when spinning,” she said, in answer 
[ 83 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


to his question ; and then, dapping her hands, 
she bade the servants bring in the dishes for the 
banquet, and talked and smiled so sweetly that 
Rolf wished that he might conquer a dozen 
Hyptogriffs for her sake. 

That night the Prince thought he heard again 
faint singing, and the same verse repeated, 
mingled with the sound of sobbing; but the 
wine that he had drunk at the banquet in the 
evening had made him strangely drowsy, 
and he did not stir. 

In the morning the Kitchen Maid met him in 
the garden. “ You will find,” she said in a sad 
voice, “ your Silver Shield in your room when 
you return. For your sake I hid it, for your 
sake I polished it, for your sake I bring it back 
once more ; but on your life do not let the Lady 
Nightshade see it until you force her to look 
into its shining depths. Then, and not till then, 
shall you know the false from the true.” 

These strange words set the Prince to think- 
ing. He would fain have questioned the girl, 
whose voice was so sweet, though her face was 
smutty, her clothes ragged, and her hair hidden 
[ 84 ] 


PRINCE OF THE SILVER SHIELD 


beneath a dingy cap ; but the Kitchen Maid had 
gone as quickly and silently as she had come. 

Suddenly, as he paced the garden, he heard 
the rustle of wings, and a great commotion in 
the bushes near by, and as he looked in surprise, 
a white dove slowly rose from the underbrush, 
while a big black raven circled about the pretty 
creature, striking at it fiercely with its horny 
beak. The Prince was filled with indignation 
at this sight, and seizing a stone flung it, this 
time with no feeble hand, at the great bird, and 
succeeded in striking its wing ; for with a hoarse 
croak of anger the raven flapped lamely away, 
while the white dove, with a grateful look, 
floated in through an open window of the 
Palace. 

A few moments later Rolf met the Lady 
Nightshade and was much concerned and sur- 
prised to see that one arm was bound in a silken 
sling. The Prince asked her at once, with ten- 
der sympathy, how she had been injured. At 
the question, for an instant, the Lady’s eyes 
gleamed yellow like a cat’s, but she answered 
sweetly, that she had missed her footing on the 
[ 85 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


marble staircase and had hurt herself a little. 
“ But,” said she, “ I have come to bid you 
pledge me in a glass of wine the like of which 
you have never tasted, and you shall drink it 
from a cup such as no King can boast. Having 
done so, I will grant your earnest wish without 
delay. You shall have my promise to be your 
bride, and I will ride east to your father’s 
Palace in your company, should you still desire 
to go. Come, then, to the Banquet Hall.” 

Now, indeed, did the heart of the Prince leap 
with joy, and he told her he would follow at 
once, if she would but permit him first to seek 
his chamber and there don another coat more 
fitting for the ceremony. Nightshade consented, 
and Strong-Arm hurried to his apartment, hardly 
daring to believe that he had won at last this 
beautiful maiden for his bride. 

The words of the Kitchen Maid were quite 
forgotten, and he stared with amazement and 
stood spell-bound, as on reaching his apartment 
her voice fell once more upon his ear, — 

“ Safety behind. Danger before. 

Prince, beware, lest yon ride no more.” 

[ 86 ] 


PRINCE OF THE SILVER SHIELD 


He looked all about him and could see no one, 
but the soft voice sang on. Then, all at once, 
he perceived that the words came from the white 
dove, who was perched upon the Silver Shield, 
now once again in its accustomed resting- 
place. 

“ Who are you, strange bird, and what does 
all this mean ? ” he asked. 

“Dear Prince,” replied the white dove, u you 
go to your death unless you heed my warning. 
She who has changed me into this shape is about 
to turn you into the form of a deer, when she 
will set her hounds upon you and they will run 
you down. Strong-Arm, for my sake and for 
your own, beware ! Drink not from the jewelled 
cup. Raise it but to your lips, and then turning 
upon the sorceress, seize her by the hair. Force 
the cruel Nightshade to look in this magic Shield 
of yours ; and when you at last know the truth, 
throw the wine into her face and bid her take 
her proper shape. A few drops sprinkled upon 
me, with the same words, and your poor but 
faithful friend the Kitchen Maid will stand 
before you safe once more.” 

[ 87 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


“Can this be true?” asked the Prince in 
mingled horror and amazement. “ But if it be,” 
he continued, “ you shall not find me ungrate- 
ful. Kitchen Maid though you are, I will set 
you before me on my horse, and with me you 
shall ride east, and I will myself acknowledge 
you as my bride before the King, my father, 
and his Court.” 

“ Go, then,” said the dove, “ for time presses 
and the Lady becomes impatient. Bear your 
Silver Shield upon your arm, and at the right 
moment I shall be beside you.” 

Rolf, therefore, hastily donned a purple 
mantle trimmed with ermine, with clasps of 
gold, and hiding his Silver Shield beneath its 
ample folds, he sought the Banquet Hall. 

Here the beautiful Nightshade awaited him, 
in a robe tenfold more gorgeous than any the 
Prince had yet seen; and in one white hand 
she held a cup cut from a single emerald, with a 
foot of ivory inlaid with turquoise, and handles 
studded with diamonds. About the cup was 
twined a golden serpent with one glowing blood- 
red ruby flashing from its flattened head. With- 
[ 88 ] 


PRINCE OF THE SILVER SHIELD 

in, the wine itself was ruby red and its fragrance 
mounted to the Prince’s brain. 

Nightshade’s glorious eyes were fixed upon 
him, and her voice said in his ear, with quick 
command : “ Drink, Prince ; your reward awaits 
you ! ” 

As if in a dream, Rolf seized the splendid 
cup and obediently raised it. Another moment, 
and the thing would have been done ; but just 
as his lips parted, the soft rustle of the white 
dove’s wing came faintly to his ear. With a 
quick motion he set the untasted cup upon the 
table, and drawing forth his Silver Shield, sternly 
bade the Lady Nightshade gaze upon its polished 
surface. She drew back with a wicked look in 
her dark eyes, but Strong-Arm was too quick 
for her. One glance into the magic mirror, and 
all love for the sorceress vanished forever from 
the Prince’s heart, while the blood ran chill in 
his veins, for the frightful image of a hideous 
old hag had risen at his words of command, — 

“ Come, Shield of mine, and plainly show 
True face of friend and face of foe.” 


[ 89 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


(l Take your proper shape, cruel witch/’ he 
said, and flung the red wine in Nightshade’s face, 
and there before his wondering eyes, in the 
Lady’s stead, appeared a huge black raven, which 
struggled in the Prince’s relaxing grasp, and 
freeing itself, slowly rose and winged its way 
heavily through the open casement of the Ban- 
quet Hall, and so out of sight. 

Rolf then turned, and quickly sprinkled the 
few remaining drops of the magic draught upon 
the snowy pinions of the waiting dove. Here, 
too, the effect was instant; and the Kitchen 
Maid with downcast eyes stood meekly there 
before him. 

u Let us go, dear Prince,” said she. “ Re- 
member the words I wrote upon the locket 
after the wicked Nightshade had inscribed her 
verse and dropped her portrait where you could 
see it, — 

i Should such love cease ? Ride to the east. 7 

We are not yet out of danger, for the sorceress 
has many evil friends, and we had best flee 
from the Palace ere she returns.” 

[ 90 ] 





PRINCE OF THE SILVER SHIELD 


“You are always wise and right,” answered 
the Prince; and accordingly, without loss of 
time, his good steed was saddled, and setting 
the Kitchen Maid upon the horse’s back, Rolf 
vaulted into the saddle, and so away. They 
rode in silence for a long time, and at last they 
came to a thick grove of trees through which 
ran a babbling brook. 

“ I am tired,” the Kitchen Maid said, and 
then meekly added : “ May it please your Gra- 
cious Highness, I would fain dismount and rest, 
and bathe my face in yonder brook. Ride on 
if it meet your royal wish, and I will come to 
you again where the trees end and the highway 
stretches there before you.” 

So the Prince reined in his steed, and lifted 
the Kitchen Maid tenderly from the saddle. 
Then, as she had asked, he mounted once more, 
and rode on slowly to the meeting-place. Here 
the green grass at the forest edge looked so 
inviting that he tied his horse, and settled him- 
self for an hour’s slumber. 

When he awoke a beautiful maiden, fairer far 
than the Lady Nightshade, stood before him. 

[ 91 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Her unbound hair fell in soft dark masses to 
her feet; her robe a simple gown of white; 
her eyes deep blue like wood violets ; and her 
cheeks faintly pink like the petals of a blush 
rose. 

“I am the Princess Heartsease,” said she, 
“ and I am ready to ride with you, my Prince, 
unto your father’s kingdom.” 

But Rolf shook his head. “ Deem me not 
discourteous, most beautiful lady,” he said, 
springing to his feet; “but that may not be. 
I wait another, — a Kitchen Maid, with a voice 
sweet like yours, and a heart that Queens might 
envy. She, and she only, shall be my bride.” 

Now at this the lady’s eyes grew softly ten- 
der, and a radiant smile played upon her lips. 
“ Look well ! ” said she. “I am the Princess 
Heartsease, it is true, captive of the wicked 
sorceress, and now free once more, but I am 
also the humble Kitchen Maid. Prince, will 
you ride with me ? ” And to this question one 
need not write the answer. 

So with a Princess fair beyond dreaming Rolf 
went his homeward way; and when the old 
[ 92 ] 


PRINCE OF THE SILVER SHIELD 

King clasped his son in his arms once more, 
and found that the Silver Shield reflected hack 
an image more beautiful, if possible, than the 
Princess herself, his heart overflowed with 
happiness and peace. He gladly resigned the 
Crown to the Prince, and bade him listen to the 
advice of his wife in all matters, whether of 
home or State ; for, said he, and Rolf had no 
wish to contradict him, “ without Heartsease, 
my son, the Silver Shield, with all its magic 
power, would have availed you little.” 


[ 93 ] 



IV 

HOW DANTIZOL THE DRAGON LOST 
HIS TAIL 

M ANY, many years ago, Dantizol the 
Dragon made his home under a 
great mountain on the very out- 
skirts of a mighty kingdom. He had just come 
of age when my story begins, and that made him 
(for such is the custom with Dragons, as every- 
body knows) just one hundred and one years old. 
You might search far and wide and you would 
[ 94 ] 



HOW DANTIZOL LOST HIS TAIL 


not find a handsomer, a bigger, or a scalier 
Dragon than Dantizol ; and the thing of all 
others that he prized most, and for which he 
was most envied, was his tail. 

• This appendage was so long, and its steely 
blue plates were so cunningly fashioned, that 
Dantizol could quite comfortably lie with his 
head out of the opening to his home under the 
mountain, and yet know that his tail was 
coiled within coils in the winding tunnel behind 
him, and that its very tip lay fifty feet from 
where the head part of him blinked and snoozed 
in the summer sun. And very few Dragons 
could say the same, let me tell you. 

Now there was something very mysterious 
about this tail, and I am going to let you into 
a secret, known only to Dantizol, his Mother, 
and myself : a secret that had puzzled many a 
wise head, as I can assure you. 

The strange thing was this : when the neigh- 
boring Dragons came together to play or 
wrestle, or, as sometimes happened, to quarrel, 
they would often, either in half earnest or frolic, 
nip one another, and pretty good nips too. 

[ 95 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 

Now Dantizol never seemed to mind how hard 
they bit his tail, but would even lie lazily 
stretched full length, and gently wave this 
member to and fro, and challenge any Dragon 
or number of Dragons to come and do their 
worst. Now, as these very Dragons were ex- 
tremely tender in their tails, this state of things 
was not a little provoking, and much would they 
have given to learn the true reason of this 
strange matter ; and this is the secret that I am 
about to tell you. 

A long time before all this, when Dantizol 
was yet in the nursery, and hardly more than 
twenty-five years of age, he had been very 
much like his friends in all particulars, and had 
you then stumbled over his tail, or bitten it by 
mistake, you would, I think, have been very 
sorry for your hasty action. 

One morning, however, his wise old Mother 
had important business calling her from home, 
and had left Dantizol in his roomy underground 
nursery, with many injunctions not to move 
from the spot till her return. She had given 
him for dessert at dinner an extra gallon of sul- 
[ 96 ] 


HOW DANTIZOL LOST HIS TAIL 

phur and molasses, of which he was passion- 
ately fond ; had placed his favorite toys within 
his reach, and had told him to be a good little 
Dragon and amuse himself there quietly, and 
that she would without fail return by sunset. 

Dantizol was good for a time, but after a little 
he began to tire of his surroundings, and it oc- 
curred to him that a short journey into the outer 
world, which he had but seldom seen, would 
be a very fine and exciting thing. His idea 
was, like many other naughty Dragons, to get 
back before his Mother returned, so that she 
would not know anything about it, and he felt 
sure that he would be able to do so. Without 
more thought, therefore, he concluded to dis- 
obey his kind parent ; and another hour found 
him scrambling about in the upper world, roll- 
ing in the grass, frightening an occasional passer- 
by, and generally enjoying himself very much. 

Perhaps, had he been contented to remain 
near his hole, things might not have been so 
bad, but he was soon dissatisfied with this 
amount of freedom, and, drawn by curiosity, 
set out for the nearest village. Imagine the 
7 [ 97 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


alarm of the good people there! Of course 
Dantizol was only a baby Dragon, but he 
looked monstrously large to them, and they 
fled in every direction. 

Dantizol strolled about, greatly enjoying the 
sensation he was making, and at last happened 
to pass a candy-shop. The door had been left 
open by the badly frightened owner, and it was 
an easy matter for Dantizol to run out his long 
tongue and greedily lap up the sweetmeats 
within. Bushels of chocolate creams, yards of 
molasses candy, dozens of peppermint sticks 
were speedily devoured. He had never had 
such a feast in his life, and when he topped off 
with a big jar of licorice drops, you will not won- 
der that his little stomach, accustomed to much 
simpler fare, began to give him notice to stop. 

Dantizol, again like many other small Drag- 
ons, was quite self-sufficient when he felt well, 
but when he had a pain he wanted his Mother 
right straight away. Now, however, he dared 
not go home in such & plight, and he accord- 
ingly decided to try to take a short nap and see 
if sleep could not cure him. 

[ 98 ] 


HOW DANTIZOL LOST IIIS TAIL 


Accordingly he sought a shady spot at the 
bottom of a big hill, and the pain growing 
better he was able to drop into a light doze. 
From this, however, he was rudely awakened 
by a noise like thunder, and before he could 
move, a great rock fell on his tail and pinned 
him to the earth. A shower of stones followed, 
and Dantizol saw the village folk running about 
just out of reach and pelting him with whatever 
came to hand. 

He was badly frightened, and while it had 
seemed great fun to scare other folk, he did 
not at all enjoy being scared himself. The 
worst of it was that he could not run away. 
He pulled and tugged, and the rain of stones 
fell thicker and faster. At last Dantizol gave 
one despairing, giant effort and was free ! But, 
alas ! his beautiful tail, the pride of his heart 
and his dearest possession, was left behind ; 
and he scuttled home, a wiser but very sad 
little Dragon indeed, and reached his hole just 
as his Mother appeared around a curve of the 
mountain. 

Perhaps here we had better draw a veil. The 
iLofC. [99] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Mother Dragon was kind but firm, and she was 
very, very angry, as she had a right to be, with 
her naughty, disobedient son. Whatever she 
did in way of punishment certainly had an effect. 
Indeed Dantizol was so ashamed of himself and 
his conduct, and so well behaved, that at Christ- 
mas the Mother Dragon gave him an entirely 
new tail. 

In order to do this she had been obliged to 
spend much of her hoarded treasure and to seek 
the help of three sets of people. First of all, she 
went to the Gnomes, who dealt in all kinds of 
metal and knew how to work with it ; and these 
underworld people filled her order so well for a 
new Dragon's tail like the missing one, that 
sharp eyes indeed would be needed to see that 
it was not the original tail itself. Next, the 
thoughtful Mother sought the Fairy Queen, and 
persuaded her to weave a special magic charm 
about the shining plates, so that they would 
stretch more and more year by year, and thus 
grow slowly with the growth of her Dragon son. 
Lastly, she called in the aid of the Dwarfs, who 
are wonderful tailors, and on Christmas morning 
[ 100 ] 


HOW DANTIZOL LOST HIS TAIL 


the new tail was firmly stitched into place ; and 
so pleased and proud was Dantizol with his 
Mother’s gift that he never even wriggled as the 
Dwarfs’ needles pierced his tough skin. 

That was how Dantizol came to have the 
mysterious kind of appendage of which I have 
spoken. And very particular he was, I can 
assure you, that each shining scale should be 
kept bright and that no scratches should mar 
the polished surface. 

I wish I could go on to say that the wise old 
Mother Dragon’s son not only began to behave 
himself, bqt also weftt on growing better and 
better. But, alas! it was not to be. He was 
pretty good for a time, but when he became big 
enough to live alone and be his own master, 
Dantizol gradually forgot his parent’s teaching, 
and became not only proud and conceited, but 
fierce and cruel as well. His great strength 
and wonderful size made him feared by all, and 
it was fortunate indeed that natural laziness pre- 
vented his often journeying far from home. 

One day, however, the Dragon became rest- 
less and set out toward the King’s Palace. 

[ 101 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


There, in the royal gardens, played the little 
Princess, his Majesty’s only daughter. She 
was a dear little maid, about six years of age, 
with yellow curls, blue eyes, and a mouth that 
was usually smiling at something or somebody. 
Everybody loved the Princess Rosebud, as she 
was called, and it was a real pleasure to have 
her about, so sweet and sunny was her temper. 

It had been so long since the Dragon had 
been seen or heard from, that nobody expected 
his coming, and when his great head appeared 
over the garden wall, her Highness’s nurses, 
I ’m sorry to say, promptly lost their heads and 
took to their heels, leaving the little Princess 
quite alone with the monster. 

Now Dantizol had never seen anything quite 
so dainty as this little figure. From her white 
pinafore embroidered with the royal arms, he 
knew at once that this was the King’s daughter, 
and immediately it entered into his wicked head 
to capture her and bear her away to his den 
beneath the mountain. What he would do with 
her then, he would decide later. Now, however, 
he thrust a great horny paw over the wall, 
[ 102 ] 


HOW DANTIZOL LOST HIS TAIL 


picked up the Princess, and sauntered slowly 
away, knowing well how powerless was the 
King, whose whole army, had it been on the 
spot, could hardly have stayed his progress. 

The mingled wrath and sorrow of Rosebud’s 
poor father you may easily imagine. He at 
once sent troops in pursuit of the Dragon, but 
Dantizol had already reached his hole with his 
prisoner, and no one dared follow him further. 

Then in despair the King made proclama- 
tion that whoever should restore his daughter 
unharmed, and drive the Dragon from his 
dominions, should be laden with honors and 
treasure, and should have granted him, no matter 
at what cost, the first thing afterward that might 
be asked for. 

Between sorrow and affection for the poof 
little Princess, and desire for the great rewards 
offered, a number of knights started on the 
King’s errand. But one look at the hole in the 
mountain was enough for most of them, and 
the bravest hardly got beyond the first turning ; 
for there the rumble of the Dragon’s conversation 
would reach them, and the sound of his great 
[ 103 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


body sliding along the tunnelled way would 
send them scrambling home faster than they 
had come. 

There chanced, however, to live not far from 
the mountain a poor widow, whose only son, 
Roland, a lad of ten years of age, was a fine, 
bright boy ; kind to his mother and hard-work- 
ing, and a great admirer of the Princess 
Rosebud, whom he had often seen at a distance 
when making his way about the city. 

Roland had felt very badly indeed when the 
news of the capture of the Princess had reached 
him, and as he had often seen Dantizol, he knew 
at once how hard a thing it would be to rescue 
the little maid from the monsters clutches. 
The boy knew also something more about the 
Dragon than he had yet told to any one. He 
had often talked about the monster with an old 
gray-haired man, who lived some distance off, 
and who had as a child seen the Dragon the 
day that he had lost his tail. 

Roland had always been very much interested 
in the story ; he knew, from what the old man 
said, that Dantizol had gone into the moun- 
[ 104 ] 


HOW DANTIZOL LOST HIS TAIL 


tain tailless and had not very long afterward 
appeared with as fine a tail as one would wish 
to see. The old man said he knew from the 
creature’s markings that it must he the same 
Dragon who had come in and out ; and on the 
other hand, the big book on the subject, in the 
Public Library, had said positively that Dragons 
could not grow a second tail, should the first 
unfortunately be lost. 

The lad was a bright boy, as I have said, and 
he had taken, some months before the capture 
of the Princess, to watching Dantizol’s move- 
ments. He soon saw how very careful the 
Dragon was of this part of his body, and how 
proud he seemed of its glistening blue scales ; 
and after Rosebud’s capture the boy thought 
more and more of the matter, and at last made 
up his mind exactly what to do. 

First of all he went to the Public Library 
once more, and looked up all the information he 
could get in the Dragon Book, under u LT.” 
“ Habitation ” he passed over quickly, for he 
knew already where Dantizol lived ; but at 
“ Habits ” he stopped a long time, and he learned 
[ 105 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


one thing of great value : After a hearty meal 
all Dragons are apt to sleep, but to sink them 
in a dreamless slumber that will last till sunset, 
it is necessary to feed them on flour and honey. 

To Roland now the whole thing seemed plain, 
and he sought admission to the royal presence 
in order to tell his plan. But this first step was 
not so easy as he had hoped. Numberless 
officials wanted to know why he wished to see 
the King, and when at last he told them he 
desired an order for a thousand barrels of flour 
and a hundred casks of honey with which to 
feed the Dragon, they, one and all, shouted 
with laughter, and at last he was turned out of 
the royal precincts and told to be gone about 
his business and leave the work of rescue to 
older and wiser heads than his. 

The poor boy, therefore, went sorrowfully 
away; but his courage came once more when 
by great good luck he learned that a big train 
of flour-laden wagons was on its way to the 
King’s granaries, and that several dozen crates 
of honey and other provisions were to be carried 
as well at the same time. 

[ 106 ] 


HOW DANTIZOL LOST HIS TAIL 


The caravan he found would pass near the 
mountain on the way to the city about sunrise 
the following day. The thing now was to ac- 
quaint the Dragon of this circumstance, and to 
do this Roland borrowed a suit from a friendly 
messenger boy, and wrote the following note on 
a piece of yellow telegram paper : — 

“ Fifty wagon loads of flour. Several hundred jars 
of fine honey. Other provisions of the best quality. 
To pass the mountain at daybreak. The pleasure of 
your company is earnestly requested.” 

Then he proceeded to the opening of the Drag- 
on’s cave, and had the good fortune to see the 
monster sunning his ugly length near his hole. 
Without a moment’s delay Roland walked 
straight up to him and presented his message. 

Now the Dragon was very conceited, as has 
been said, and he could not bear to have any 
one think he was ignorant of any matter what- 
soever ; but he had never learned to read, and he 
was ashamed to let even this small boy find this 
out. So he squirmed a little and then asked, 
a Who are you ? ” 


[ 107 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


“A messenger: yon might see by my uni- 
form/' answered Roland, promptly. 

“And this?" questioned the Dragon, rather 
mortified at his first mistake, and touching the 
paper as he spoke with his scaly paw. 

“Why, it's a message. Don’t you know 
what that means?" 

“Of course, of course," said the Dragon, test- 
ily, and he took the paper and held it upside 
down. “ Who ’s it from ? " he continued. 

“ Why, it ’s from the one who wrote it,” an- 
swered the boy ; “ who else could it be from ? 
But maybe you can’t read it." 

“Oh, I can read it fast enough," answered 
Dantizol, quickly, “but you see I’ve — that is 
— my eyeglasses, you know, I ’ve mislaid them 
somewhere, and I ’m a trifle near-sighted. Sup- 
pose you read it ? ’’ 

So Roland in a business-like way rattled off 
the invitation. 

The Dragon scratched his head with his paw. 
“ It’s all right, I suppose," he began doubtfully, 
“but — " 

“I guess you’ve never had many telegrams,” 
[ 108 ] 


HOW DANTIZOL LOST HIS TAIL 

Roland interrupted. “I s’pose I’d better go 
back and tell them so. I ’ll say you don’t 
understand, and you’re not — ” 

“Coming!” roared the Dragon. “You’d 
better believe I’m coming. I didn’t see just 
at first that it was a telegram. That makes all 
the difference, of course ; ” and he backed ma- 
jestically into his hole, while Roland took to 
his legs in high glee at the success of his 
venture. 

Just before daybreak our hero rose quietly, 
snatched a hasty breakfast, and soon reached the 
spot where the King’s wagons were to pass. 

Sure enough, as the sun rose, Roland saw in 
the distance the leading horses, with the driver 
walking at their head. He was so interested in 
watching their slow advance, that he did not 
hear a stealthy gliding behind him, and looked 
up just as Dantizol’s huge length cast its shadow 
over him. 

The Dragon had already smelt the approach- 
ing train, and paid no attention to Roland, who 
watched the monster with quickly beating heart, 
as he stood snuffing the air, with one huge paw 
[ 109 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


upraised and every polished scale glittering in 
the morning light. 

At that instant horses and men caught sight 
of their enemy, and at once the greatest confu- 
sion reigned. The beasts plunged so madly 
in their terror that they broke their traces 
and galloped off in the opposite direction, 
closely followed by their drivers, not a man 
of them wishing to see the monster at close 
quarters. 

Dantizol had been a very greedy little baby 
Dragon, and he was not the less so now. His 
appetite, too, had grown amazingly, and he fell 
at once upon the overturned wagons and pro- 
ceeded to break open barrel after barrel with 
blows from his powerful paws or tail, and gener- 
ally demolish the crates and boxes in which the 
good things were packed. You would hardly 
believe your eyes, had you seen at what rate 
the flour, honey, pressed figs, dried fruit and all, 
disappeared. Dantizol stopped at nothing. He 
licked up with relish a gallon of tomato ketchup, 
and whole dozens of pickled limes went down 
his throat at a single gulp. 

[ 110 ] 


HOW DANTIZOL LOST HIS TAIL 


The drivers, seeing that the Dragon had no 
interest for them, drew a little nearer ; but it 
was Roland’s sharp eyes that detected the first 
symptoms of drowsiness in the great beast. 
Dantizol yawned so that he could have taken in 
an ordinary-sized cottage at one bite. He showed 
the whole of his pink-lined mouth, his arrow- 
headed tongue, and every one of his gleaming 
double-fanged rows of teeth. 

Then he ate a little more, but by this time his 
vast sides were sticking out and it was evidently 
hard for him to find room for the few remaining 
provisions. Llowever, he managed to swallow 
them all, and even lapped up the honey that he 
had spilt upon the ground. Then his red eyes 
grew dimmer, his great head dropped upon his 
paws, his tail quivered once and was still; and 
Dantizol the Dragon slept. 

Without losing a moment, Rolancl sprang 
ujoon the back of his unconscious foe, nor did 
his enemy so much as rattle a single scale as 
he did so. Then with dexterous fingers he 
sought for evidence that the beast’s great tail 
a false one, and to his joy much careful 
[ 111 ] 


was 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


search revealed the stitches that the Dwarf tailors 
had taken so many years ago. 

Roland at once began to hack and hew at the 
stout thread with his knife, but he found it no 
easy job, I can tell you, for the thread was as 
spun steel and the Dwarf tailors had done their 
sewing well. In vain he shouted to the cowardly 
drivers to come and help him. No threats or 
promises would induce one of them to approach 
nearer than twenty feet, and the brave boy had 
to settle down to the hardest day’s work he had 
ever known. Of course he had often to stop 
and rest, and wipe the perspiration from his 
dripping forehead ; but he kept thinking of poor 
little Rosebud, shut up somewhere in the gloomy 
cave beneath the mountain, and the hope of her 
rescue nerved his tired arm to fresh efforts. 

The blazing noonday sun beat down upon 
the same group, — the crowd of watching men, 
the wearied boy, the slumbering monster. At 
last, with a thankful heart, Roland cut the last 
stitch, and the gaping teamsters saw the Dragon’s 
tail slowly fall away from his body. 

Almost too tired to stand, Roland climbed 

[ 112 ] 


HOW DANTIZOL LOST HIS TAIL 


down from the monster’s back, and by dint of 
much pleading and promises of reward in the 
King’s name, he got some help at last, and per- 
suaded the men to drag the empty shell to some 
distance and cover it from sight with the bushes 
that grew near by. 

Hardly had this been accomplished when the 
monster showed signs of waking, and Roland, 
remembering that but half of his task was done, 
forgot his fatigue, and ran with all the speed he 
could to the Dragon’s mountain home. Down 
the opening he popped, and so on and on 
through the gloomy, darkened tunnel, till at last 
he reac led the mountain’s heart and a dim light 
glowed *n the distance. This he found came 
from a f’re in the centre of a vast stone-lined 
cavern, in me corner of which cowered a sadly 
crumpled, v >ry frightened little girl. 

Just as he reached her, Roland heard a tre- 
mendous snorting and rumbling in the distance, 
and knew that the Dragon had awakened before 
the time and was on his track. 

“ Quick ! quick ! ” he called to the Princess, 
and took her little hand in his ; and Rosebud, 
s [ 113 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


filled with joy to see a human face again, obedi- 
ently stood on her feet. Roland then saw that 
she was tied to a ring in the wall by a stout 
rope, but a few swift cuts of his well-tried knife 
soon settled that difficulty, and the Princess was, 
free. 

Freed from the rope, that is, but not from her 
gloomy prison ; and worst of all, at that moment 
they heard the great beast coming at a terrible 
pace straight down the underground passage. 
In the cavern there was no spot where they 
might hide, but the boy remembered in his fright 
through the tunnel that the smooth wall was 
broken in one place, and it was this niche in the 
solid rock that they sought on the instant. 

Roland almost pulled the little Princess off 
her feet, he ran so fast ; but Rosebudys terror of 
the Dragon was so great that she d : d not mind, 
but did her utmost to keep up with her new-found 
friend. And with all their efforts they were 
barely in time to crouch trembling in the little 
recess of the tunnelled wall, for they had but 
just reached it when Dantizol went lumber- 
ing by. 


[ 114 ] 


HOW DANTIZOL LOST HIS TAIL 


Now, as you must know, Dragons have keen 
noses, and in ordinary circumstances a fly could 
not have hidden there without the monster’s 
finding it ; but Dantizol was not quite himself. 
His hearty meal, his nap, his sudden waking to 
see that his precious, his beautiful tail was gone, 
— all this had combined to fuddle his wits, 
and his one idea at the time was to reach his 
cavern. 

So he did not pause on his onward rush ; and 
when he had passed, the children did not once 
stop for breath till they were well out of the 
mountain and on their way to Roland’s home. 
By now, the sun had set, and the little Princess 
was too weary — to say nothing of Roland — to 
go farther that night. 

Imagine the surprise and joy of the widow 
when the wonderful story was told her, and how 
she praised Roland, and how she petted the 
Princess, who nestled close in her arms; how 
she fed them on bread and milk (the Dragon 
had tossed crumbs to Rosebud somewhat as one 
feeds a canary, yet she was hungry) ; how she 
wept over them both; and lastly, how she 
[ D5 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


kissed Roland good-night, and having sung the 
Princess to sleep, tucked both children snugly 
into their beds. 

Then she seized upon Rosebud’s white frock 
and her pinafore, and washed them and patted 
them and clear-starched them and wrung them 
out and ironed them and fluted them and aired 
them, so that by morning the little Princess 
should be fitly dressed once more. 

Before breakfast the next day, when the widow 
was washing the Princess's face and tying her 
golden curls with a ribbon, Roland slipped from 
the cottage, for he knew that there was one 
thing yet to be done before he could with a 
quiet mind present the King with his rescued 
daughter. 

This thing was to interview the Dragon ; and 
only duty urged Roland on, for he had but 
little liking for the errand that lay before him. 
Probably Dantizol would be feeling strangely 
queer and light in his hinder part, probably too 
he would be having a bad attack of indigestion 
from all the things he had eaten yesterday, and, 
more than all, it was extremely probable indeed 
[ H6 ] 


HOW DANTIZOL LOST HIS TAIL 

that the loss of the Princess and of his beautiful 
tail would have thrown him into the worst of 
humors! 

Poor Roland! The first view of the angry 
Dragon confirmed all his fears, which the mon- 
ster’s greeting did not help to lessen. 

“ Mortal boy ! ” roared Dantizol, as he caught 
sight of the trembling lad. “ A fine thing you 
have done with your messages and telegrams ; 
but don’t flatter yourself that you are to escape. 
I shall eat you now for breakfast, first of all, 
and then I ’ll ravage the whole country. I ’ll 
teach people to meddle with my belongings ! ” 
and he stretched out one big paw to clutch his 
victim. 

But Roland did not move. “Eat me if you 
wish,” he said coolly, for he saw that only 
courage could save him, “ but a fine figure 
you ’ll cut, ravaging the country without a 
tail. Yes, you may well blush,” for at this 
the Dragon certainly did look mortified ; “ but 
I ’ll have you know that I ’m the only person 
who can get it back for you.” 

Now at these words Dantizol trembled with 
[ 117 ] 


THE GIANT'S RUBY 


eagerness. “ Could you really show me 
where it is, if I should spare your life?” he 
asked. 

“ You ’ve got to do more than that/’ answered 
Roland. “ You ’ve got to promise as well to 
leave the kingdom, right off, and never come 
back again. Your tail is just as good as ever, 
it isn’t hurt a bit, and you can have it back 
just as soon as you swear by the third hind toe 
of your grandmother’s left paw to do as I have 
said.” 

You see now how good a thing it was that 
Roland had learned so much from the Dragon 
Book in the Public Library, for an oath of this 
sort no Dragon would dare to break, and Dan- 
tizol saw that he had been trapped. 

It made him very, very angry, for he wanted 
to eat Roland dreadfully and he wanted to make 
everybody just as scared and unhappy as he 
could. In fact, there was just one thing that he 
wanted more, and that happened to be his tail. 
He had found it very awkward getting on with- 
out it, even for these few hours, and he could n’t 
bear to think of the other Dragons, his friends, 
[ 118 ] 


HOW DANTIZOL LOST HIS TAIL 


finding out about the scrape into which he had 
fallen. 

“ If you don’t promise,’’ said Boland, “ the 
King will have your old tail broken up, and 
you could n’t use it then if you wanted to.” 

At this dreadful thought the Dragon turned 
very pale, and in a few faltering words, without 
more ado, repeated the solemn promise ; and 
Roland, hardly daring to believe his ears, could 
with difficulty refrain from shouting out loud 
with joy. 

However, he managed to keep a very solemn 
and dignified look, and led Dantizol straight to 
the spot where the precious tail was hidden. 
The Dragon seized it in his teeth and drew it 
swiftly to his home, and there beneath the 
mountain, that very day, the Dwarf tailors 
visited him and sewed it on securely once again. 
He had been such a wicked Dragon that I fear 
I don’t care very much if their sharp needles 
did prick him ; and I am glad to be able to say 
that, the thing being done, Dantizol at once de- 
parted, nevermore to return. 

As for Roland, he ran back to the cottage, 
[ 119 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


now quite free from care, and he found the little 
Princess all dressed and quite impatient to re- 
turn to her father. And that journey back to 
the Palace! Certainly, neither of them would 
ever forget it. Great crowds turned out to see 
them pass, and the word ran like lightning from 
one to another that the sturdy boy walking 
beside their beloved Princess had been the one 
to rescue her and overcome the terrible Dragon. 

The King heard the good news before they 
reached the royal precincts, and when he caught 
his little daughter to his heart and shook Roland 
warmly by the hand, you could hardly hear 
yourself think for the cheering of the multitude. 
All over the city the bells were rung, flags 
waved, the bands played, soldiers presented 
arms, and the greatest joy and excitement 
prevailed. 

The King sat on his throne, with Rosebud on 
his right hand and Roland on his left, and when 
he had heard all the story, he commanded 
the School Committee to have it put in all the 
Readers, so that every pupil throughout the 
land should become familiar with the tale. 

[ 120 ] 


HOW DANTIZOL LOST HIS TAIL 


He likewise ordered a public yearly holiday 
throughout the kingdom, and granted at once 
Roland’s first request, which was that he might 
live always with the Princess. Rosebud clapped 
her hands with glee at this permission, and the 
two children went off gayly hand in hand. 

The King was a monarch who never did any- 
thing by halves, so he charged the Lord High 
Treasurer to see that Roland was provided with 
all things needful and many extras, and to look 
to it that the silk and velvet furnished for his 
wardrobe were of the finest quality. 

Roland now lived daytimes in the Palace 
and went to school with the Princess, but at 
night he still slept, as before, in his mother’s 
humble cottage, for that good lady would not 
hear of transferring her abode to more splendid 
apartments. 

One thing only the widow wanted, and that 
was a black silk dress for Sundays ; and this was 
her son’s first purchase with the pocket money 
that the Lord High Treasurer allowed him ; and 
the gift was more to his mother than all the 
gold and silver in that exalted person’s keeping. 

[ 121 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


As you have doubtless seen by this time, 
Roland was a pretty sensible boy, and all this 
success and attention did not turn his head. He 
remembered how foolish Dantizol had looked 
when in his conceited way he had tried to pre- 
tend knowledge of things of which he was really 
ignorant, and he decided to try never to look 
like that himself. 

So he studied hard and learned a good deal, 
and was well liked by everybody ; and if you 
should ask me who, next to his mother, loved 
him the best, I would answer, the Princess 
Rosebud. 


[ 122 ] 



V 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 

O NCE upon a time, many years ago, 
there lived a Prince who took the 
greatest delight in hunting. Some- 
times the whole Court would he up and astir by 
four o’clock in the morning, and the common 
people, hearing the gallop of hoofs and the bay- 
ing of hounds, would open one eye lazily and 
then turn over for another comfortable nap, 
feeling very glad indeed that they did not 
have to accompany his Highness at that early 
hour. 


[ ns ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


The courtiers themselves didn't like it very 
well, either, and when the Prince got so far as to 
rout them out of their beds at midnight for just 
one more moonlit adventure, their discontent 
knew no bounds, and perhaps the heir might 
have lost his throne in consequence, had not one 
day a strange thing happened. 

On this occasion the royal huntsman was, as 
usual, in advance of his train ; in fact, he had 
left them a couple of miles or so back in the 
forest, and had dismounted, when the wild boar 
he was pursuing turned and with a sudden rush 
overbalanced the rash youth, who was for the 
moment entirely at the creature’s mercy. What 
might have happened then is easy to imagine, 
but just as the great beast’s tusks ripped up the 
Prince’s hunting-coat, a Porcupine appeared 
from the surrounding underbrush, and shooting 
out several of its barbed quills, pierced the 
boar’s brain, so that it gave an expiring gasp at 
the very moment that the victim had given up 
all hope. 

“ Noble Porcupine! How can I ever repay 
you ? ” cried the Prince, springing to his feet ; 

[ 124 ] 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 


and only the extreme prickliness of this new- 
found friend prevented him from embracing it 
on the spot. Indeed his excitement and relief 
were so great that when the Porcupine replied 
in very good English, it did not seem for the 
moment at all out of the common run of things. 

“If you really feel that you owe me your 
life/’ it said in a queer, rumbling kind of voice, 
“ you will give up this foolish hunting and leave 
my brother animals in peace in the forest. As 
for me, I wish to see something of high life, and 
I would like to go back with you as your guest 
to the Palace.” 

“ Certainly,” the Prince answered, though he 
looked rather crestfallen. “ I should be de- 
lighted to have you visit me, but about the 
hunting now — ” 

The Porcupine clicked its long teeth together 
somewhat viciously. “ The hunting must stop,” 
it said decidedly. “It has been ordained in 
solemn council this very day, and if you persist 
in continuing, the animals will all band together 
and attack you at once, so that you will cer- 
tainly lose the life that I have just saved. Come 
[ 125 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


now, think up some other sport. As for me, 
take me with you and I’ll be a friend worth 
having.” 

“ Very well,” the Prince answered, seeing that 
there was no help for it ; and just then his train 
came up, very much out of breath; and they 
looked with the greatest surprise and disgust at 
the Porcupine when they heard that it was to 
be an inmate of the Palace. But when their 
master went on to declare in mournful tones 
that his hunting days were over, they had the 
hardest work in the world to keep from laugh- 
ing out loud with delight and to look, on the 
contrary, as sad as was expected of them. 

The whole party, therefore, turned back ; the 
Prince having first with his gauntleted hands 
carefully lifted the Porcupine to his saddle bow, 
the Porcupine in its turn trying politely to 
keep as many of its barbed quills to itself as 
possible. 

Things went on pretty smoothly after this for 
a while, till the new visitor became so used to 
Court life that it was a little careless. For in- 
stance, you could hardly blame the Prime Min- 
[ 126 ] 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 

ister, a very fat and important person, for being 
angry when he sat suddenly down in his own 
particular chair, only to find that the Porcupine 
had been taking a nap there before him. 

And even the Prince was displeased to find 
the faithful creature snuggled up and gently 
snoring in the very middle of the royal bed, 
just as the Chief-Tucker-In had warmly disposed 
the counterpane about the Prince’s person. 

One day at dinner the Head Footman gave 
the new visitor a kick, when nobody was look- 
ing, and then, strange to say, instantly dropped 
the platter he was holding and hopped about the 
table in a manner very different from that of 
Head Footmen in general, crying, u Ow! Ow ! ” 
with several porcupine quills sticking in the calf 
of his leg. 

Yes, there was no doubt whatever about it, — 
the Porcupine was sometimes an inconvenient 
creature to have about ; and the Prince sighed 
whenever he thought of its marvellous fidelity, for 
it was loyal to an amazing degree, and had a most 
unpleasant habit of rubbing itself affectionately 
against its master. After a few of these loving 
[ 127 ] 

r 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


demonstrations the Prince gave orders for a fine 
suit of chain armor to be made, and rarely laid 
it aside, day or night. 

Perhaps the Porcupine began to see that it 
was somewhat unpopular. At any rate, one 
morning it disappeared and returned bearing 
upon its quills a great quantity of clay, in 
which were stuck both lumps of gold and 
jewels. Then, indeed, was it really welcomed; 
and even the Prime Minister, who had early 
secured a fine diamond, was heard to say that 
perhaps, with all its faults, the creature might 
have its uses. 

Late that evening, when Prince and Porcupine 
were at last alone, the new visitor spoke. “ Mas- 
ter/’ it said, “for a long time I have noticed 
that you are dull and out of sorts. Why not 
come with me on a tour of adventure ? The 
treasure that I have brought to-day is a mere 
handful beside other riches that I can show you ; 
and beside, I know of a captive Princess who is 
very beautiful, and who complains with reason 
that things. are not as they were in olden days, 
since not even one handsome young Prince has 
[ 128 ] 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 


so far come to her rescue. To release her 
will be really far more exciting’ than hunting, 
for the danger is greater, and the reward, believe 
me, is as great as the danger.” 

Now at these words the Prince’s face bright- 
ened, and the upshot of the matter was that he 
stole away from the Palace that very night, dis- 
guised as a beggar ; and the Porcupine, who 
from its nature couldn’t be disguised, trotted 
along beside him. 

Once out on the high-road, the Prince began 
to feel as merry as a school boy with all vaca- 
tion before him, and as happy as a lark. 61 Hurry 
up, old ‘ Porky,’ ” said he to his companion, who 
was rather huffed at this undignified mode of 
address ; and suiting the action to the word, 
the noble youth turned a handspring in most 
unroyal fashion, and set such a pace afterward 
for the Porcupine that you could hear at some 
distance its quills rattling like a bundle of 
eastanets. 

But good humor is almost always contagious, 
and soon the Porcupine began to be rather gay 
also, and helped to pass away the time by tell- 
9 [ 129 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


ing some very interesting stories about itself 
and its relations, and spoke too at length about 
a certain fairy, first cousin on its mother’s side, 
through whom it had attained the useful gift of 
human speech. 

It was by the help of this same person that 
the Porcupine had been able to find out all 
about the Princess Rosalinda, who was shut up 
in a Brazen Tower on a desert Island, guarded 
by an Ogre, who was only prevented from eat- 
ing his captive by the fact that he had not so 
far felt very hungry and preferred to keep the 
lady, if possible, since he considered her very 
much in the light of bait in the trap which he 
had set for adventurous youths to come to. 

On this subject the Prince held very decided 
views, and while he was prepared to run his 
head into danger as fast as his feet could carry 
him, he foresaw, with the aid of his prickly 
friend, a very different outcome to the matter 
than that expected by the Ogre. 

At any rate, the very thought of the beautiful 
Rosalinda’s danger was enough to nerve his arm 
to tremendous deeds of strength, and he would 
[130J 


THE FAITHFUL PORCtJPINE 


hardly listen to the more wary Porcupine when 
it besought him to temper boldness with discre- 
tion and wait till nightfall to approach the desert 
Island, when it was the Ogre’s custom to take 
his daily walk, which according to the doctor’s 
advice would prevent dyspepsia, — a thing all 
Ogres hate. 

At last this wiser scheme was adopted, and a 
friendly Dolphin having kindly taken them on 
his back to the Island, the Porcupine dug a 
trench in the sand, in which it and the Prince 
could hide, and there they remained till they 
heard the retreating footsteps of their enemy. 

Then again it was this faithful servant of 
the Prince who helped the royal youth out of 
still another difficulty, for when they reached 
the Brazen Tower, they found that the wily 
Ogre had omitted to put in a door, and the only 
opening was a single window, near which the 
lovely Rosalinda sat combing her golden hair 
with an ivory comb and singing most bewitch- 
ingly to herself. 

The moon lit up this attractive picture, and 
the Prince was simply wild to speak with the 
[ 131 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 

fair damsel, but could not attract her attention. 
Therefore, by his prickly friend’s advice, he 
fastened a leaf of his note-book to one of the 
faithful animal’s quills, which the Porcupine 
immediately shot with great violence through 
the window ; and the astonished Princess on 
picking it up found her first love letter, together 
with the announcement that a champion had 
now come who would soon save her from the 
Ogre’s toils. 

Of course, Rosalinda dared not call down to 
this handsome young defender, with his queer 
beast beside him, for fear of the Ogre, who 
might even then be within hearing ; so she 
nodded and smiled, and finally kissed her hand, 
and after that the poor Porcupine had hard work 
to draw its royal master away, though the 
great form of the wicked jailer already loomed 
up in the distance. 

However, it did finally succeed, and all would 
have gone well had not the pair unfortunately 
forgotten that their footprints had been left in 
the sand, and had not the sharp eyes of the 
monster spied them at once. Flourishing his 
[ 132 ] 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 


club, lie strode after the intruders, and had not 
the amiable Dolphin appeared in the very nick 
of time to bear them away from the Island, this 
story would have had a short and sad ending. 

As it was, there was trouble enough, since the 
Ogre now knew that at last a youth had come 
prepared to carry away the Princess, and his 
heart was filled with wicked glee, so that he im- 
mediately read over in the latest Cook-books all 
the ways of serving Princes, and at last decided 
to have this one on toast. 

Meanwhile he kept such a tireless watch on 
his fair captive that it was impossible to land 
upon the Island without the monster’s knowl- 
edge, and the Prince grew so impatient at the 
very idea of waiting longer that at last the Por- 
cupine had to think up another and a bolder 
plan of attack. One fine morning soon after, 
therefore, the Dolphin again bore the pair toward 
the Island, and when they were within speaking 
distance, the Prince called aloud to the Ogre 
and offered to make terms with him. 

“If I can furnish you with a dish that you 
cannot eat, will you let me bear the Princess 
[ 133 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


away in safety/ 7 he said, (t for should I fail I 
will at once give myself up to you and you shall 
have your will with me.” 

Now the Ogre thought this a fine proposal, 
for his teeth were so strong that he had not the 
slightest difficulty in cracking paving stones 
with them as easily as though they had been 
walnuts ; and as for diet, there was not much 
eatable that he had not already tried, and when 
he consumed horned cattle, he never bothered 
much if the horns had not first been removed. 
At the same time he had his preferences, and a 
fine young Prince for dinner was one of them. 
It did n’t, therefore, seem much of a risk, and he 
concluded to agree, since the plan he felt sure 
would bring him his favorite meal without the 
bother of catching it beforehand. The time for 
the test was set for sundown the next evening, 
and then the Dolphin carried the Prince and the 
^ Porcupine back to the mainland, after promising 
to ferry them across once again the following 
night. 

Meanwhile the Ogre took some special physi- 
cal culture exercises warranted to give an appe- 
[ 134 ] 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 


tite, and drank several bottles of tonic for the 
same excellent reason ; then he cracked a grind- 
stone or two in pieces with his big double teeth, 
to make sure that they were in good working 
order ; and lastly, he told the Princess to cheer 
up and be happy once more, for he was really 
well pleased with her and the fine work she had 
done in bringing such a delicately fed young 
Prince to the Island, and that he should be 
served and garnished in the very latest manner. 

Now at this Rosalinda burst into a torrent 
of tears, and cried so much that the desert 
waste beneath her window grew quite green 
in consequence; while the Ogre only grinned, 
and picked his teeth with a splintered pine-tree, 
and chuckled when the Princess called him 
“ Wretch ” and “ Monster ” and all the abusive 
names she could think of. 

On the other hand, the Prince himself was 
rather down-hearted, while the Porcupine was 
as merry as possible ; yet when the hour of the 
trial came, only the Prince appeared, bearing in 
his arms a great covered silver dish. 

“ Fe ! Fi ! Fo ! Fum ! ” growled the Ogre, 
[ 135 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


after the manner of Ogres of all ages, when he 
caught sight of his intended victim. “ What’s 
in that fine dish of yours, my young friend ? v 
Not more than enough for a mouthful, I 'll 
warrant;” and his grumbling sounded like the 
dull roar of thunder, as the Prince landed on 
the Island and walked straight up to the meet- 
ing-place. 

“For an Ogre of your well-known appetite 
and strength, perhaps it is n’t, 7 ' replied the 
royal youth, politely taking off his cap to 
Rosalinda, who, quite pale with fright, was 
hanging out of her window in the Brazen Tower 
and watching the whole proceeding. 

“Let 7 s see it, at any rate,” sneered the mon- 
ster, “ since I am already hungry enough to 
eat platter and all.” 

The Prince therefore removed the cover of 
the dish, and there was revealed, as you may 
have already guessed, the faithful Porcupine 
rolled up tight into a motionless, bristling ball. 

“ Um — um — ah — ” hesitated the Ogre, rather 
taken aback at this unlooked-for sight. “ Do 
mortals ever eat such meat as this ? ” 

[ 136 ] 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 


“ Certainly/’ answered the Prince ; 61 but per- 
haps you, being only a second-rate Ogre, cannot, 
after all, stomach such dainty fare. Just say 
you are beaten, therefore, and get you gone, 
and I ’ll call it square.” 

“ Not so fast, my fine young Cock ! ” roared 
the monster, now thoroughly enraged; and he 
seized the Porcupine and took a good big mouth- 
ful of bristling quills, which our prickly friend 
had left quite loose for the purpose. 

“ Ug ! Ug ! ” he roared, dancing about in rage 
and pain on the instant, and trying to pull out 
the barbed darts, which only went in deeper for 
his struggles; and finding this to be the case, 
the haughty monster at length dropped on his 
knees and besought the Prince to get the quills 
out in some way, seeing which the Porcupine 
suddenly came to life once more and laughed 
hoarsely at its discomfited enemy. 

“ Leave the Island at once, then,” ordered the 
Prince, sternly, “ and give me your word here- 
after to join the Vegetarian Society, which means 
that you are never, never, under any circum- 
stances, to eat meat again. Also, you must 
[ 137 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


promise not to molest either the Princess, my 
Porcupine, or myself further.” 

“ I will, I will,” answered the now humbled 
Ogre. 

“And you’d better,” said the Porcupine, 
fiercely, “ or I ’ll call up my brother Porcupines 
and we will shoot off our quills at you till you 
look like a pincushion stuck full of needles.” 

At this terrible threat the Ogre grew paler 
yet; and the Prince, having compassion on his 
foe, pulled out with a good deal of difficulty the 
mouthful of darts which his enemy had so fool- 
ishly tried to swallow. When the last one was 
gone, the monster took to his heels and, boarding 
a raft that was hidden in the lee of the Island, 
paddled away in the water with such haste that 
he was soon nothing more than a black speck 
in the distance, and a moment later was lost to 
sight. 

Without wasting any time, the Prince now 
ran to the shore, where he had concealed a 
ladder made all of twisted eel grass, and this he 
flung up to the Princess’s window, where Rosa- 
linda made it fast, and having safely descended 
[ 138 ] 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 


was soon in her preservers arms ; the Porcupine 
at that moment tactfully looking out to sea. 

When the pair were a little calmer, Rosalinda 
told the sad story of her capture. She was, it 
appeared, the only child of the Monarch of a 
kingdom near by, and her father had lost by the 
wicked Ogre’s hands, not only his daughter, but 
all his treasure as well. ^ 

“It’s no use your trying to make it up to 
him out of your own pocket,” said Rosalinda, 
as the Prince generously broke into her recital 
with an offer of help, “ for the King, my father, 
is very proud, and the only thing possible would 
be for you to aid him to discover new treasure for 
himself, without letting him suspect that you 
knew anything about it beforehand.” 

The Porcupine now interrupted : “ Do you 
not remember, Master, the lumps of gold and 
the jewels that I brought home one day in the 
Palace? I can lead you to the spot where I 
found them ; but, alack ! since then, my cousin 
the fairy tells me a spell has been laid upon the 
place, of what nature I do not know; and I 
would advise you to consult Gray Goose as to 
[ 139 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


the best means of removing it, before trying to 
even see the treasure.” 

“You darling!” said the Princess, clapping 
her hands in glee. “ How clever of you to think 
of it ! ” and if you had been there, .you would 
have seen the rarest of sights, — a Porcupine’s 
smile. 

But the Prince would not agree. His hasty 
spirit would not brook delay, and the idea of 
a Goose helping him seemed too ridiculous to 
consider for a moment. “If you really know 
where the treasure is, lead us there at once,” he 
said to the Porcupine. 

“ But let us go by way of my father’s king- 
dom,” begged the Princess; and of course her 
word was law. 

Now, when Bosalinda’s parents saw their 
daughter once again, whom they had given up 
for lost, their joy knew no bounds, and they 
readily consented to her marriage with her 
brave and handsome young preserver. Unfor- 
tunately, such an event, to be properly cele- 
brated, would cost money, and the Lord High 
Treasurer already went about with his pockets 
[ 140 ] 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 


turned inside out, to show the sad state of the 
country’s finances. Things were really pretty 
serious, for the people, too, were beginning to 
complain at the extreme shabbiness of the Court 
and their rulers. 

In vain the King did his best to conceal the 
patched condition of what was now his best 
mantle ; and in vain the good Queen sat up late 
into the night with her handmaids, trying to 
darn the royal stockings. The Crown jewels, 
of course, were gone, and the paste ones that the 
King bought were too poor to deceive anybody. 
As for his consort, she was forced to wear such 
an old-fashioned bonnet that the very farmers’ 
wives giggled at it behind their hands ; while 
the royal pair sat down daily at the banquet 
table to a meal of pickled herring or some such 
frugal dish, served under protest by haughty 
footmen who could with difficulty restrain their 
scorn. Everybody’s salary was months behind- 
hand, and the Lord High Executioner threat- 
ened loudly to leave unless paid in full : a most 
awkward state of affairs, as I can assure you. 

When, therefore, the Prince tactfully begged 
[ 141 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


his intended father-in-law to give him the bene- 
fit of his years and experience in the matter of 
finding a treasure that was said to be not very 
far off, the old Monarch at once assented. It 
was judged best not to let any one else into the 
secret; so the King, the Prince, and Rosalinda 
set out without escort, the Porcupine, sadly 
shaking its head in grave disapproval, leading 
the way. 

Through a maze of woodland paths, ever 
twisting and turning, the wise animal proceeded, 
never once mistaking the road, and after some 
hard scrambling through the underbrush, in 
which the old King’s garments were rent be- 
yond repair, the faithful beast stopped short and 
bade the party look through the thicket which 
enclosed a clearing in the forest. This they did, 
one and all, and having parted the screen of 
leaves, their eyes were dazzled by a great pile 
of glittering gold and jewels, that flashed with 
every color of the rainbow. 

Not heeding the warning cry of the Porcu- 
pine, at this glad sight the old Monarch broke 
through the brush and clutched the shining treas- 
[ 142 ] 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 


ure ; but, alas ! on the instant he was changed 
to stone before their very eyes, and Rosalinda, 
rushing to her father's rescue, tripped and fell, 
touching the heap of gold as she did so, and was 
immediately turned to stone in her turn. 

Sadly the Prince followed, keeping well back 
from the glittering mass that had caused all this 
trouble ; and as his eyes grew accustomed to the 
glare he saw that several other wayfarers had 
met with a similar fate, and that even a butter- 
fly that had alighted on the shining jewels had 
been turned into stone, like the mortals about 
him. 

“ Alack ! good Master ! ” said the Porcupine. 
“ Let us go hence and seek the aid of Gray 
Goose, since without his help neither you nor I 
can ever hope to repair this folly .” 

By this time our hero had realized his own 
rashness in not following his faithful friend's 
advice in the beginning, and was only too will- 
ing to do what he could now to make up for his 
obstinacy, and undo all this mischief. With 
hanging head he therefore resumed his journey, 
and his misery was so apparent that the Porcu- 
[ 143 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


pine was too kind-hearted to add to it by words 
of rebuke. 

In silence they continued on their way, till 
at last curiosity got the better of the Prince’s 
anger at his own foolishness, and he asked his 
companion, “ Who is this wonderful Gray 
Goose?” 

u He is a friend to all animals,” answered the 
Porcupine, “ and has more wisdom in the tip of 
one feather than all the rest of us put together.” 
You see in its excited admiration the Porcupine 
unconsciously spoke in rhyme. “ He is not 
particularly favorable to mortals,” it continued, 
“ because of that sad happening (you know the 
goose who laid the golden eggs and was un- 
gratefully killed by his mistress — he chanced 
to be a relation, and Gray Goose has never for- 
gotten it). However, since you made that Ogre 
stop eating us and also have given up hunting 
yourself, I think we can hope for assistance.” 

Hardly had the Porcupine finished, when a 
voice came from an adjoining thicket. “ Quite 
right, my friend,” it said; and Gray Goose him- 
self waddled forth and fixed his shrewd eyes on 
[ 144 ] 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 

the Prince. “ What is it, young man I ” he 
asked. “ Love or gold ? For your kind usually 
want help in one or other of these matters.” 

61 With me,” answered the Prince, “ it is 
both ; ” and he told all his story. 

61 Hum, hum, ha ! ” said the Gray Goose, 
thoughtfully scratching his head with one 
webbed foot. u So you want this treasure, and 
you desire as well to bring these stone people to 
life once more. Well, there ’s but one way out 
of it. You Ve got to find some mortal who cares 
for neither gold nor jewels, and who would 
rather have a crust of bread and a bowl of milk 
any day. Over such a one the spell has no 
power, and a person of this kind has only to 
touch these poor transformed mortals to release 
them also, while the enchantment of the treasure 
will be dispelled in the same fashion. Just a 
touch — that’s all.” 

“ But where can I ever find such a one I ” 
asked the Prince, in despair. 

61 Go and look, Stupid,” said Gray Goose, 
shutting his eyes to show that the interview was 
over; while the Porcupine, with many thanks 

10 [ 145 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


for itself and its master, backed respectfully 
out of the great bird’s presence. 

“ Alas ! alas! ” said the Prince, in deep gloom. 
u We shall never rescue the Princess and her 
father, and get the treasure.” 

“ Don’t be too sure of that,” said the Porcu- 
pine, its eyes twinkling, “ for I have an idea. 
And now follow me ; ” and after another long 
walk through the woodland, it stopped before a 
small hut, half hidden in the dense foliage of the 
trees. 

Here the Prince knocked, and a poor woman, 
opening the door, fell upon her knees as soon as 
she saw her visitor, for she recognized him at 
once as the ruler of that part of the country. 
The Prince raised her kindly, and asked if she 
would shelter him and his friend the Porcupine 
for the night. 

“ Willingly, your Highness,” answered the 
woman, “ but I fear that you will find but little 
comfort here; ” and she led the way into the hut, 
which was almost bare; a bed of straw and 
another in the attic, a bench, and an iron 
kettle being the chief furnishings, while a half- 
[ 146 ] 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 


opened cupboard showed a well-nigh empty 
larder. 

However the poor woman did her best, and 
made a pease porridge which the hungry Prince 
thought very good, and which caused the Porcu- 
pine to smack its lips loudly with delight in 
a way not usual with people of good table 
manners. That night they rested ; their hostess 
in the attic, and Prince and Porcupine as near 
together as was pleasant on the single bed of 
straw before the fire. 

In the morning a child’s voice awoke the pair ; 
and feeling much refreshed, the royal visitor 
sprang to his feet to greet the poor woman, who 
now appeared, leading her only child, a fine lad 
of four or five years of age, by the hand. He 
was a bright-faced, merry little urchin, with big, 
wondering grave eyes and hair like spun flax, and 
he laughed aloud with delight when the Prince 
tossed him up on his shoulder ’and pretended to 
chase the Porcupine, who for an animal of its 
prickly tendencies entered very well into the 
spirit of the fun. 

Breakfast was a rather spare meal, and the small 
[ 147 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


boy looked wistfully several times into the bot- 
tom of his mug, evidently hoping that by some 
lucky chance the milk would come again to fill 
it. Seeing this, the Porcupine whispered to its 
master, and the Prince, leaning forward, asked 
the poor woman if she would lend him her son 
for a short time, promising in return that no 
harm should come to him. 

Reluctantly the mother agreed, and the three 
set out at once on their errand, leaving the poor 
woman watching in her doorway, where she 
stood till her visitors and her own little lad were 
alike lost to sight. 

When the boy’s short legs were tired, the 
Prince picked him up and carried him pickaback ; 
and as for the Porcupine, it behaved like the 
gentleman it was, and was careful to keep its 
quills entirely to itself. 

Thus they journeyed on, and at last reached 
the spot where the glittering gold and jewels 
were spread, and where the poor statues sur- 
rounding it looked out with gloomy eyes upon 
them. 

“ Which would you rather have,” asked the 

[U8] 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 


Prince, in trembling tones, of the little lad, — 
“all this fine treasure or a big bowl of bread 
and milk ? ” 

“ Bread and milk ! bread and milk ! ” cried 
the sweet, shrill voice ; and the small boy danced 
up and down on his sturdy legs at the very 
idea of such a feast. 

“ Run then, dear child,” said the Prince, “ and 
touch each one of those stone statues, and last 
of all the treasure, and you shall have such 
a dinner as you have never seen.” 

Thinking this a new kind of game, the boy 
at once obeyed ; and his clear laughter echoed 
through the forest, as the enchanted men and 
women slowly returned to life ; the old King at 
once trying to draw his torn mantle about him 
with fingers still stiff from the working of the spell, 
while the Princess Rosalinda threw herself upon 
her royal parent’s breast in an outburst of grati- 
tude and delight. 

The other people stood about, dazed from their 
terrible experience, now happily over; and the 
Prince, coming forward, told all to take an equal 
share of the treasure, — the old Monarch’s por- 
[ 149 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


tion being quite sufficient to make him rich for 
life. 

“ My own part shall be given to this dear, 
brave little boy, who has saved you all,” con- 
tinued the Prince. 

“ And mine,” said the Porcupine, “ I shall 
leave here, and get a quillful of gold or gems 
whenever it seems most convenient.” 

Everybody, therefore, was perfectly satisfied ; 
and the poor woman — poor no longer now — 
was not the least so when her child was returned 
to her safe and sound, while the news which her 
royal master brought with him of her changed 
fortune seemed almost too good to be true. 

There only remained, therefore, to celebrate 
the marriage of Rosalinda and her gallant bride- 
groom, and the festivities on this occasion were 
such that nobody could take the least exception 
to anything, and even the haughty footmen’s 
eyes stuck out with wonder at the remarkable 
elegance of it all. The Queen had an amazing 
milliner’s bill, and the Court Jeweller almost ran 
his legs off in his efforts to keep up with the 
royal summons. 


[ 150 ] 


THE FAITHFUL PORCUPINE 

As for the Porcupine, immediately after the** 
wedding ceremony, it was knighted, and being 
now a titled person, of vast wealth, as was whis- 
pered, and first Court favorite, it was much 
looked up to and respected by those of both high 
and low degree. 

A little later the Prince ordered a statue 
of his friend erected in the public square be- 
fore the Palace, and in its shadow the nurses 
used to take their young charges and tell 
them the story of the faithful Porcupine’s ad- 
ventures. 

As for the little lad to whom the Prince had 
promised a dinner the like of which he had never 
seen, I can only say that the royal word was 
not broken, and that the poor woman’s small 
son sat down in a clean pinafore to a meal which 
began with the big bowl of bread and milk, 
went on to buttered toast, broiled chicken, and 
so forth, and ended with apple tart, ice cream, 
raisins, chocolates, taffy, marmalade, and sweet- 
meats of all kinds in such profusion that it was 
the greatest wonder of all the wonderful things 
that had happened since the beginning of the 
[ 151 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Prince’s adventures, that the feast did not im- 
mediately finish him. 

As it was, however, he did n’t have even so 
much as a teeny weeny pain in his small 
stomach ; and when he had really done and 
had slipped down from the royal table, you 
should have seen the beautiful toys that had 
been provided for his entertainment. In fact, 
he went home to his mother that night with a 
large stuffed cat under one arm and a box of 
soldiers under the other, while about his neck 
hung a bag of marbles and another of candy, 
and on his head he proudly wore a fireman’s 
helmet ; while behind him strode the very 
strongest and biggest porter in all the royal 
service, bearing a whole toy-shop beside and 
smiling from ear to ear as he did so. 

At this happy moment, therefore, let us leave 
him, and leave the Prince and Princess as well, 
feeling sure that in that particular kingdom all 
must of necessity go smoothly, since had they 
not for true friend and constant adviser the 
wise and faithful Porcupine. 


[ 152 ] 



AVALON AND THE WIND WITCH 

T HERE was mourning and wailing, ter- 
ror, too, and confusion in the Palace 
of the King of the Thousand Isles. 
The Maids-of-Honor ran helplessly hither and 
thither, the gray -bearded Councillors shook their 
heads sadly, the Common People gathered in a 
dense and excited crowd without the royal pre- 
cincts, while within the King himself stormed 
furiously, the Queen wrung her hands, and the 
Princess wept. 

The night before all had been calm and peace- 
ful. After the royal dinner the King had played 
[ 153 ] 



THE GIANT’S RUBY 


whist with the Queen, had won twopence as 
usual (she got it back from the Lord Treasurer 
next day), and in high good humor had gone to 
bed. The Queen had interviewed the Head 
Gardener, had told him the cabbages sent to the 
royal table must in future be fresher, and with a 
good conscience had retired also. 

The Princess Honeydew, their only daughter, 
had played on her harp awhile, gazed from her 
balcony at the silver moon, sighed once as she 
thought of the handsome Prince Avalon, heir to 
the neighboring kingdom, wished they might 
meet again, and, having written a note to the 
Royal Dressmaker to say for the last time 
that the pink ball gown must be done by 
Thursday, had also sought her chamber for 
the night. 

The First Lady-in-Waiting blew out the 
scented taper by the Princess’s bedside, the 
Head Candle-Snuffer went his rounds and ex- 
tinguished the remaining lights in the Palace, 
gentle snores proceeded from the apartments of 
the King and his amiable consort ; save for this 
and the regular tramp of the sentinels, all was 
[ 154 ] 


AVALON AND THE WIND WITCH 

quiet. And yet some time during that very 
night this terrible thing had happened. 

A shriek from the First Lady-in-Waiting, 
when she came to rouse the Princess, had been 
the herald of the misfortune, and another from 
the Princess as her eye caught her reflection 
in the mirror had been the second note in the 
general chorus of lamentation. 

Would you believe it? The royal maid had 
gone to bed with her shimmering wealth of 
golden hair untouched, and now in the morning 
not a single curl remained ! Yes, every shining 
tress had been wickedly cut. The question re- 
mained — who was the thief and when had the 
deed been done ? 

The King was purple with fury. He began 
by ordering the entire Palace guard to instant 
execution ; but the Queen, as was her habit (a 
rather trying one for his Majesty), revoked the 
sentence before anything further had been done 
about it. 

Then the King dismissed all the Ladies-in- 
Waiting without their week’s notice, but the 
Queen at once secretly re-engaged them. 

[ 155 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


And lastly, his Majesty issued a proclamation, 
offering to reward with half his kingdom and 
the hand of his daughter the one who would 
secure the punishment of the thief and bring 
back the Princess’s golden locks. And this 
time the wise Queen did nothing, for she thought 
it would be plenty of season to move in the 
matter when the moment for the reward should 
come. It might be a well-to-do young man of 
family and prospects who should succeed, and it 
might not ; she would wait and see. 

As for the poor shorn Princess, she declared 
she was a fright, which really wasn’t so, for 
without her long golden tresses she was still 
fair as a May morning, and the tiny curls peep- 
ing out beneath her cap, for she took to caps 
immediately, were still the envy of the other 
ladies at Court. 

But you could n’t induce the Princess to think 
so. She shut herself up in an ivory tower that 
her father had formerly built for her near the 
royal palace. She refused- to see any one but 
her maid and her family, and cried most of the 
time when she saw them ; and when the First 
[ 156 ] 


AVALON AND THE WIND WITCH 

Lady-in-Waiting besought her to grant an 
interview to Prince Avalon, who had hurried 
over on hearing the sad news, the Princess came 
so near hysterics that the Court Physician for- 
bade any further mention of the subject. 

His Majesty was at his wits’ end, for his 
daughter was the apple of his eye. Without 
much hope, but to relieve his mind, he wrote a 
postscript to his first declaration, in which a 
handsome fortune was promised to any one 
inventing a salve that should make the Princess’s 
hair grow to its former length within a year. 
After that there was but little peace for any of 
the royal household, I can tell you. The Head 
Doorkeeper resigned his post in a week, so many 
applicants flocked to the Palace ; the Postmaster 
General requested a raise of salary, on the 
ground of alarming increase in mail; and the 
King’s Private Secretary had nervous prostration. 

The Princess had brightened a little on read- 
ing some of the first testimonials of the hair- 
restorers, but her faith soon waned, her interest 
vanished, and with it went the King’s patience, so 
that the next needy inventor had a narrow 
[ 157 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


shave, for the Queen was only in time to save 
him as the head-man led him to the block. 

No more applicants appeared after that, but a 
note written on heart-shaped paper and deco- 
rated with forget-me-nots did come to the 
Princess, and in it Prince Avalon bade her good- 
bye, and told her that he was about to set forth 
on the quest that was, if fortune favored, to end 
in the capture of the thief and the finding of the 
golden tresses. 

Now at this her Highness wept harder than 
ever. Nobody knows, indeed, what might have 
happened, for the First Lady-in-Waiting was 
already holding salts to her mistress’s little pink 
nose, when suddenly the window flew open and 
in came the Princess’s Fairy Godmother. 

“ Hoity toity ! ” said she, taking in the scene 
with her small, snapping black eyes. 61 Stop 
that nonsense at once, child ! ” and she rapped 
the ground smartly with her staff. u First you 
cry because your curls are gone and Avalon 
doesn’t come, then you cry because he comes 
and you won’t see him, and now you cry 
because he ’s gone to do you a service.’’ 

[ 158 ] 


AVALON AND THE WIND WITCH 

“But I fear he’ll get hurt, and n-n-never 
come back,” sobbed the Princess, but beginning 
for all that to wipe her eyes with a scrap of lace 
handkerchief ; for, to tell you a secret, the Fairy 
Godmother was the only person in the world 
who knew how to manage her Highness, and the 
only person, too, of whom the young lady was 
in the least afraid. 

“ Fiddlesticks ! ” snapped the Fairy God- 
mother ; “ as if I had n’t watched over Avalon 
from his cradle. I ’ll tell you one thing, how- 
ever, my girl, he did n’t start in on this harum- 
scarum errand with my advice ; but now he ’s 
off, I ’ll wager my snuff-box to your cap-string 
that he comes back safe again. And speaking 
of caps, don’t let me see you in one again. 
Stop all this crying and behave yourself, too, 
and begin to learn something useful, or when 
Avalon comes back I ’ll see to it that he looks 
farther for a Princess.” 

“ He would n’t — you could n’t,” cried Honey- 
dew, her cheeks crimson ; but the Fairy God- 
mother only smiled wisely. 

“ I think that will settle it,” she said to her- 
[ 159 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


self, and tapped with her crutch on the window- 
pane. u Good-bye, my child/’ she added more 
kindly, as she stepped into her flying* chariot 
and without more ado was off about her business. 

What this was it will take a little time to tell 
you, for I must go back to the time when the 
news of Honeydew’s loss first reached Prince 
Avalon. 

Of course, being a young man of spirit, as 
well as deeply in love with the Princess, he 
could hardly wait to have his horse saddled be- 
fore setting forth in quest of the golden locks. 
But being also a youth of some wisdom, he saw 
in a few moments that haste often makes waste, 
and that to seek the thief with success, he must 
first learn something of the direction in which 
to ride. 

Now there was only one person who would 
and could give him this information, and it was, 
therefore, towards the abode of a crabbed old 
Wizard that the royal youth first turned his 
horse’s head. 

Now, if the Wizard was crabbed, he had a 
Housekeeper who was twice as crotchety. She 
[ 160 ] 


AVALON AND THE WIND WITCH 


lived witli her master in the Cavern that was his 
home, and though she served him faithfully, she 
was never tired of grumbling at this queer kind 
of residence. The Wizard let her have things 
in other matters very much her own way. He 
would live in a Cave, and he would nt let her 
dust his magic pots and kettles or brush the 
cobwebs from his big iron-bound books; but 
on the other hand, it was a great honor to be 
Housekeeper to so wise a person, and the 
Wizard usually let her say whom to help and 
whom not to ; and she settled the fees in most 
cases. Thus it was that sometimes money-bags 
bursting with gold were sent to the Wizard’s 
underground chamber, and sometimes a body 
would pay little or nothing — a four-leafed 
clover, perhaps, or a skein of yarn, or some 
such trifle; for the Housekeeper had a kind 
heart, with all her cross-grained temper, and 
she seldom asked people for more than they 
could give. 

Unfortunately for Avalon, however, things 
had gone wrong the day of his visit, and the 
door of the Cavern was slammed in his face, 

11 [ 161 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


almost before lie had stated his errand. The 
next day was hardly better. “ The Wizard was 
having a nap and could n't be disturbed ; ” and 
the next, “ He was busy turning sand into gold 
and would n’t see visitors.” But the Prince was 
not going to stop trying for a few rebuffs of this 
kind. He continued to sit patiently before the 
Magician’s door, and at last the Housekeeper 
grew curious. Surely this was a very deter- 
mined young man and pleasant spoken, and she 
liked the way he took off his cap. Perhaps she 
would talk with him about the matter. 

Well, the upshot was that the Housekeeper 
told the Wizard that a very worthy young Prince 
was in trouble; and Avalon found himself, on 
the fourth day, in the curious underground 
chamber of which so many strange things were 
spoken. He told his story, and the Wizard si- 
lently began to brew a magic potion. Great 
blue clouds of smoke rolled up from the brazen 
caldron, and the Wizard bade him on his life 
to keep silence, “ else,” said he, “ will the 
charm be broken.” 

And now Avalon saw a wonderful thing. 

[ 162 ] 


AVALON AND THE WIND WITCH 


The walls of the Cavern chamber seemed to 
melt away, the smoke wreaths vanished, and in 
their place the Prince saw the chamber of his 
lady love. It was evening, and the Princess 
slept. Then all at once a black mist took shape 
in the moonlit night without, — a monster 
winged horseman, and, clutching his shoulders, 
a Witch with gleaming yellow eyes and strag- 
gling gray hair. The Witch alighted at the 
window-ledge, entered the Princess’s room, and 
hobbling to her couch, cut off with a pair of 
shears those famous golden locks. 

At this sight Avalon forgot the Magician’s 
warning and cried aloud. Instantly, with a clap 
of thunder, the picture vanished, and the Prince 
stood amazed in the angry Wizard’s presence. 
Nor would the wise man listen to the Prince’s 
plea for pardon, but packed him off without fur- 
ther help, except a chance word, by which Ava- 
lon L learned that his enemy was the famous 
Witch of the Winds, and that she had ridden on 
her wicked errand upon the shoulders of North 
Wind, her eldest son. 

Much disheartened at his own foolishness, 
[ 163 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Avalon rode sadly away, first to bid farewell to 
his Princess and then to set forth in search of 
the Witch’s home. 

After learning that Honeydew would not re- 
ceive him and having sent her a parting note, 
he took the first road that opened before him, 
and there on a grassy hillock near the highway 
sat the Fairy Godmother. She began at once 
by rebuking the Prince for his folly in starting 
upon so perilous an adventure, and then went 
on to bid him be of good cheer, for she would 
aid him. Even with all her help it might prove 
too hard a nut for him to crack, — the Wind 
Witch was a very powerful as well as wicked per- 
son, — yet it was full time that her evil deeds 
ceased ; and poor little Honeydew was a good 
child, after all, and should have back her golden 
curls if the Fairy Godmother could compass it. 

“ Keep a brave heart, Avalon,” said she. “ I 
saved you at the age of three from an attack of 
croup, and you were in as much danger then as 
now. Perhaps I may save you a second time. 
At any rate, here are three gifts and a piece of 
advice. Turn your horse loose. Take off that 
[ 164 ] 


AVALON AND THE WIND WITCH 

fine coat ; change yourself into a beggar boy, and 
wait here till nightfall. I have reason to think 
that the Witch of the Winds wants a servant 
and that she will seek one here. Go with her, 
and good luck be with you.’ , So saying, the 
Fairy Godmother vanished, and the Prince pro- 
ceeded at once to follow her instructions. 

This was easy to do, for he was not long in 
finding a wayfarer who was willing enough to 
change his ragged suit for the gold-embroidered 
satin and fine linen of the Prince’s garments, 
and a little earth and water well rubbed on the 
skin did the rest. 

Then the Prince untied the cord about the 
package that the Fairy Godmother had given 
him, and took out, first, a plain gold ring ; second, 
a bottle of oil ; and lastly, a silver lute. A scrap 
of paper fluttered to the ground as he did so, 
and picking it up he read the following verse : — 

“Bind with this ring the leader’s nose. 

The oil rub on from crown to toes. 

Play thou the lute to list’ning foes.” 

“ It certainly sounds like nonsense,” said the 
Prince to himself, u and I haven’t the least idea 
[ 165 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


what it means ; ” but nevertheless he slipped the 
paper into his pocket and sat down to wait for 
nightfall. 

Sure enough, just as the shadows deepened, 
the Witch appeared. She was wrapped in a long 
dark mantle with a hood over her head, but 
Avalon would have known her anywhere by 
her shining yellow eyes. 

She stopped when she saw the Prince and 
asked him if he would like to come with her. 
u You seem a smart, likely lad,” said she, “ and I 
pay good wages. Will you engage with me for 
long service or for short service ? ” 

“ What is the difference I ” asked the Prince. 

“ Long service,” answered the Witch, “ is for 
a year and a day, just common work, in house 
and stable. At the end of the time 1 11 give you 
a golden penny. Short service is for three days 
only. You must do all that I demand. If you 
succeed in your tasks, you may ask for what you 
like and I must do as you wish. If you fail, 
your head shall pay the forfeit.” 

“Weill,” said the Prince boldly, for he could 
not bear to think of leaving his Princess for 
[ 166 ] 


AVALON AND THE WIND WITCH 


a moment longer than needful, “I’ll take the 
short service.” 

At this the eyes of the Wind Witch gleamed 
bright, and she chuckled hoarsely. Then pulling 
out a broomstick from beneath her cloak, she 
bade Avalon seat himself upon it, sprang upon 
it herself, and in an instant the Prince found 
himself flying through the air with the speed of 
an arrow shot from the bow. 

The Witch of the Winds had her dwelling in 
a Castle surrounded by a barren plain, strewn 
thick with rocks, perched on the very summit of 
a steep mountain. In the great Hall of this 
abode the broomstick came to earth, and the 
Prince dismounted, feeling still a trifle dizzy 
from his airy flight. 

“ My sons are not yet home,” said the Witch 
in her harsh voice. “You may lie in that corner 
to-night, and in yonder cupboard you will find 
a loaf of black bread and a pitcher of water. 
To-morrow your service begins : you are to 
drive my herd of pigs to pasture, and mind you 
come back without one missing, or your head 
shall answer for it.” 


[ 167 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


So saying, his new mistress departed, and 
Avalon, rolling up his cloak for a pillow, sought 
the corner the Witch had pointed out and was 
soon fast asleep. 

At midnight a terrible roaring wakened him, 
and the noise of falling chairs and tables. Then 
the massive furniture of the Hall itself began to 
dance as if bewitched. It grew suddenly very 
cold, the door of the Hall burst open, and in 
rushed the Witch's eldest son, North Wind him- 
self, his great black mantle blowing in swirling 
folds behind him. Hardly had he entered when 
the air grew milder, and a handsome youth, 
crowned with flowers, danced gayly into the 
great Hall ; this was South Wind, and he was 
closely followed by his two remaining brothers, 
West Wind and East Wind. 

They took no notice of Avalon in his corner, 
but began to talk of their doings. North Wind 
had sunk a ship that day ; South Wind had torn 
up the flowers in the Queen’s garden bed in a 
mischievous frolic; West Wind had quarrelled 
with East Wind, and between them they had 
made quite enough trouble. All this the Prince 
[ 168 ] 


AVALON AND THE WIND WITCH 


heard, and he was not sorry, I can tell you, 
when South Wind went yawning off to bed, his 
brothers soon following his example. 

By daybreak the four sons of the Witch had 
gone again from home ; and their mother call- 
ing Avalon gave him charge of a huge herd 
of pigs, that began at once to scatter in every 
direction. 

The poor Prince had his hands full, as he 
chased the swine over their stony pasture, 
now beating up the laggards and now turn- 
ing back the foremost. Do what he might, 
however, he soon found that he could not 
keep his charges together. They would stray 
away, and even now some had gone out of 
sight and hearing. His blood ran cold as 
he thought of the cruel joy of his wicked 
mistress should he return unsuccessful in her 
service, and his head felt very loose on his 
shoulders. 

All at once his heart gave a leap, for the first 
line of the Fairy Godmother s verse came to his 
mind and gave him new courage. 

“ Bind with this ring the leader’s nose.” 

[ 169 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


The Prince felt in his pocket ; he had the ring 
right enough, hut where was the leader? For 
the enormous hog that had headed the herd had 
disappeared, and so had most of his remaining 
charges. 

The Prince started up, and to his joy now be- 
held the fat old fellow rooting for acorns at some 
distance. There then began a lively chase, and 
it was only after a vast amount of dodging and 
scrambling that the panting swineherd at last 
seized his slippery pig-ship by the tail. In the 
twinkling of an eye the ring was slipped over 
his long snout, and every pig seemed to obey 
some mysterious call, for they came trooping up 
at once and surrounded their leader, whom, by 
the way, the Prince held fast by the ear. 

After this it was an easy matter to obey the 
old Witch’s demands, and when evening came, 
Avalon went boldly back to the Castle, where 
his new mistress counted the herd twice over, 
and then grudgingly told him that as none of his 
charge was lost, he might sleep again in the 
corner of the great Hall, and make his supper, 
as before, of the black bread in the cupboard. 

[ 170 ] 


AVALON AND THE WIND WITCH 

The next day the Witch called the Prince to 
her, and told him that there was no work for him 
that day. “At night,” said she, “you shall 
wrestle with one of my sons, and if you do not 
succeed in throwing him you shall surely die.” 

Avalon was heavy-hearted enough at this, you 
may be sure; but again the Fairy Godmother’s 
verse popped into his mind, and, as it directed, 
he carefully rubbed himself all over, from head 
to foot, with the oil that she had given him. 

In came at evening the boisterous four, and 
they roared with laughter at the thought of a 
puny human being matching his strength with 
theirs. Avalon remained silent as they flung 
their taunts and jeers at him, and at last they 
began to throw lots to see who should be the 
one to obey their wicked mother and wrestle 
with the stranger. 

West Wind won the toss, and stripping him- 
self for the contest, bade Avalon stand forth. 
And then began a wonderful wrestling-match 
indeed. The mighty muscles stood out on West 
Wind’s arms and shoulders, and he could have 
broken the Prince in two as a child breaks a 

L 171 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


twig, could he have once held him long enough 
for a firm grip. But the magic oil made Avalon 
as supple as an eel ; again and again he slipped 
through West Wind’s fingers, and at last, by a 
lucky turn, he tripped up his huge enemy, and 
with a crash like a falling oak down came West 
Wind on the stone floor of the Castle Hall. 

The Witch’s eyes glowed like two hot coals, 
and her face was hideous with anger, as she bade 
Avalon get to his corner, which the Prince was 
only too glad to do without a second bidding. 

The next day the four brothers stayed at 
home, and when the Prince went to seek the 
Witch for further orders, she was nowhere to be 
found. He came back to the great Hall, there- 
fore, where fhe Wind brethren were lounging ; 
and this time he had his silver lute, for he 
remembered the third line of the magic verse. 
It had served him well before, and he would not 
fail to obey its behest this time also, for who 
knew what trap lay waiting him ? 

\So he began gently to play, and after the first 
few notes South Wind began to nod, then East 
Wind stretched himself and yawned, West Wind 
[ 172 ] 



















































AVALON AND THE WIND WITCH 

closed his eyes, and North Wind lay back in his 
chair and was soon snoring. The Prince played 
on and on, until at length the four brothers were 
indeed fast asleep. 

Then he stole noiselessly from the Hall and 
started to explore the Castle. Through room 
after room he quickly sped, nor stopped to look 
closer at the treasure that strewed the floor, or 
at the curious objects that everywhere met his 
eye. 

At last he entered a chamber smaller than any 
of the rest, and there by the casement window, 
sitting with her back to the door by which he 
had entered, Avalon beheld a maiden. Yes, 
and more than this, for the lady’s golden curls 
fell nearly to her feet, — such shimmering golden 
curls as the Prince had seen in happier days, 
and then they had adorned the loveliest face in 
twenty kingdoms. 

“ Honeydew ! ” cried Avalon, forgetting all 
else, “ how came you here % ” and he reached 
the maiden in a single stride. Another instant 
and the trick was plain, and the Prince had 
snatched the shining tresses from their place, 
[ 173 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


leaving bald and bare the wooden figure that 
the Witch had made to trap him. 

“ And trapped you are ! ” croaked a voice 
behind him ; and there stood the wicked 
creature herself, grinning with malicious tri- 
umph. “ Come, Sons of the Wind ! ” she 
screamed, clutching him with her bony hand as 
she called ; “ kill the thief who steals the Wind 
Witch’s treasure ! ” 

Avalon saw that there was no time to be lost, 
for the shrill voice echoed through the Castle, 
and any moment now the four brothers might 
awake. The silver lute, however, had gained 
him an instant and he used it well. With a 
quick motion he flung his mantle about the 
Witch’s head, and held her fast, despite her 
shrieks and struggles. But now he heard in the 
distance the steps of the running Wind brothers. 

He looked about him in despair. There was 
no place to hide in that bare chamber — but 
see ! what was that ? The Witch’s broomstick 
caught his eye. If it had flown with him be- 
fore, why not now and if it needed a witch to 
make it go, why, the Witch should come along. 

[ 174 ] 


AVALON AND THE WIND WITCH 


So, grasping fast his struggling prisoner with 
one hand, and holding tight the Princess’s stolen 
curls, Avalon flung himself on the broomstick, 
and calling aloud, “ Quick, to the Wizard’s 
Cave ! ” hung tight, as with a jump, straight out 
the casement window, sped the strange steed, 
just as the Wind brothers broke into the adjoin- 
ing chamber. 

So fast they flew that Avalon clung for his 
life, as the miles raced away behind them. On 
and on, without whip or spur and straight to the 
mark. Luckily the Wizard’s door was open. 
The Housekeeper threw up her hands in horror, 
as they passed within, but without stop or stay 
the broomstick sped its course until it landed 
gently at the feet of the Wizard himself. 

Then the Housekeeper began to scold : “ Such 
carryings-on were enough to turn a body’s hair 
gray ; ” and the Prince, for once in his life inter- 
rupting a lady, told of his narrow escape and 
begged for help. 

When the Wizard found that this tattered 
young man was the Prince who had come to 
him but a short three days gone by, and that 
[ 175 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


the struggling, fighting thing bound up in the 
mantle was the fierce and powerful Wind Witch, 
captured by this same youth, and that the 
golden locks were the famous stolen curls of the 
Princess Honeydew, he pushed his spectacles 
up on his forehead and stared in mild surprise, 
not unmixed with admiration. 

In fact, he even went so far as to offer to take 
Avalon as apprentice ; and when the Prince re- 
spectfully declined, the Wizard, though sorry, 
was not offended, and at Avalon’s urgent, re- 
peated request, by the aid of his most powerful 
charm from his biggest book of magic, turned 
the Wind Witch into a black cat, and threw the 
broomstick into the furnace, which, being used 
principally in gold melting, was very hot indeed. 

The rest of my story is not hard to tell. But 
I wish you could have been there to see the 
wedding of Avalon and the Princess, who, by 
the way, wore a wig of her own recaptured 
curls, so skilfully constructed that not even the 
First Lady-in-Waiting, who was skilled in such 
matters, would believe it was not the Princess’s 
own hair, magically grown on again. 

[ 176 ] 


AVALON AND THE WIND WITCH 


The King doubled everybody’s salary, and 
the Queen did not countermand the order. 

The Wizard sent tjie young couple a bottle of 
his best Elixir of Life, warranted for fifty 
years ; and the Housekeeper presented them with 
a jar of her finest mince-meat; so having the 
first gift, they did not hesitate to use the second. 

The schools were all shut up till further no- 
tice, and gilt gingerbread and Gibraltars could 
be had for the asking. 

Everybody said that never had they seen so 
handsome and brave a Prince, or so beautiful 
and sweet a Princess ; and as for the Fairy God- 
mother, I have been told — and I think it true 
— she threw away her crutch and danced at 
the wedding. 


12 


[ 177 ] 



THE QUEEN OF THE SEVEN 
MOUNTAINS 

O NCE upon a time, long, long ago, 
there lived a Queen named Vera, who 
was at once so good and so beautiful 
that she was loved by everybody in her whole 
kingdom, from the highest official of the Court 
down to the poorest little matcli-boy who earned 
his humble living in the streets of her Majesty’s 
city. 

Queen Vera’s dominions were encircled by 
seven mighty mountains, so steep and rugged 
[ 178 ] 



QUEEN OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 


as to quite shut out the world beyond, but en- 
compassing a green and fruitful valley, in the 
very centre of which the royal Palace stood. 
This was built of the purest alabaster, the doors 
and windows framed in mother-of-pearl and the 
roof itself of shining silver. From the foremost 
turret the royal standard floated, — a blue flag 
bearing a white dragon, with the words, “ I rule 
by kindness,” — the Queen’s motto. 

All about the Palace stretched a lovely garden, 
and without were rows and rows of magnificent 
houses and wide streets shaded by cocoanut and 
palm trees. Even the homes of the very poor 
people on the city’s outskirts were neat and 
pretty red-roofed cottages ; and then miles of 
green meadow and farm-land, with fruit orchards 
which bore at all seasons of the year not only 
pears, apples, and cherries, but oranges, figs, and 
lemons as well, — these last in the valley itself 
and the hardier fruit on the mountain side. 

There were, indeed, one or two people who 
were sometimes a little discontented. The Lord 
High Treasurer thought the Queen should be 
more careful about remitting the taxes, and the 
[ 179 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Head Prison Inspector almost never found any 
prisoners to inspect, and the Commander-in-Chief 
of the royal forces had to content himself with 
sham battles, for no enemy ever ventured to 
climb those terrible mountains that guarded the 
Queen’s dominions. The School Committee 
also sometimes thought there were too many 
holidays, but I never heard that the children 
felt badly about it ; yet, however that may be, 
it is quite true that on the great feast of the year, 
the Queen’s birthday, there was not a soul in 
the whole kingdom but what was quite ready 
and willing to rejoice and enjoy the good things 
provided to the utmost. 

It was Vera’s custom on this holiday not to 
receive presents herself, but to give something 
very nice indeed to every one of her subjects. 
For weeks beforehand spies had been set to 
work to listen and hear what people wanted. 
As they always wore the royal livery, it was 
quite easy for everybody to know them and to 
say what they most wished for in a loud voice 
at the proper time and place; and this plan 
worked so well that the Queen had little 
[ 180 ] 


QUEEN OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 


trouble in making out her list of gifts for 
the occasion. 

There was but one reason in the world why 
things should not have gone on forever in this 
same happy fashion, and that was that in some 
mysterious way word reached a wicked old 
Witch of this beautiful and peaceful kingdom, 
where everybody was content and where nobody 
so much as ever had a cold in the head, so health- 
ful was the climate. Perhaps a wandering bird 
told her ; perhaps she had a magic glass in 
which the kingdoms of the world might be 
seen; how it happened I cannot tell, I only 
know that it did happen, and that the very 
thought of so much peace and plenty threw 
Viperena (for that was the Witch’s name) in a 
very frenzy of rage and malice. 

She at once ordered her flying Bat to be in- 
stantly saddled, and it happened that she reached 
Vera’s Palace just as the doors of the Audience 
Room were thrown open that the Queen might 
receive the birthday greetings of her loving and 
loyal subjects. 

The Lord High Chancellor had begun his 

[ 181 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


yearly address, of which he was very proud, 
for it was always so full of learned words that 
nobody but himself could understand it, and 
had just got to “ the illustrious benevolence of 
your munificent hospitality,” — for he used quite 
simple language in the beginning, — when a 
hoarse, croaking voice bade him “Cease ! ” and 
there stood Viperena, glowering and grinning in 
a way quite too horrible to describe. The people 
fell back, and a baby in the crowd began to cry ; 
the Lord High Chancellor got very red in the 
face, and the nearest thing to a frown that had 
ever been seen there clouded her Majesty’s 
smooth forehead. 

“What means this? ” Yera asked, her silvery 
voice stern, for she did not like to see her friends 
and subjects thus huddled together like a flock 
of frightened sheep. 

“What it means you’ll know all too soon, 
my fine lady,” jeered the hag. “ It means that 
all this silly feasting and merry-making has 
come to an end.” She raised her crutch as she 
spoke and pointed it at the Queen, rapidly 
muttering a magic charm under her breath as 
[ 182 ] 


QUEEN OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 

she did so. Vera’s beautiful eyes slowly closed, 
her face grew white, and her lovely head fell 
back on the cushions of the throne. Viperena 
watched her with the cold, unwinking, cruel 
gaze of a snake about to destroy a bird. 

Then the Witch again spoke, and mounted her 
Bat as she did so. Straight upward she flew, 
and at the same instant Palace, mansion and 
cottage, pleasant meadow and royal park, farm 
and garden, alike disappeared beneath a tor- 
rent of water, that rose and rose till finally all 
was hidden beneath the flood ; and instead of a 
smiling valley encircled by seven great moun- 
tains, there appeared the quiet surface of a 
lake, in which these same giant heights were 
mirrored. 

From the centre of this vast expanse slowly 
rose a splendid water-lily, which held within its 
silver cup what seemed to be a bubble — such as 
children blow from pipes, only many, many times 
larger than any little earth child has ever made, 
and many times more lasting. Golden hues, pur- 
ple and rose and the blue of the skies above — all 
these tints and delicate colors played over its 
[ 183 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


surface ; and within, fast locked in magic slumber, 
reposed Vera the Queen. 

The Common People Yiperena had changed 
by her arts into the shape of frogs ; the Courtiers 
were now gold and silver fish, and some of them 
were eels ; the Maids-of-Honor she had turned 
into swans, and they now floated gracefully 
about on the surface of the lake ; while below in 
its blue depths might still be seen the Palace and, 
indeed, the whole city and country-side : the 
fish courtiers swimming in and out through the 
open doors and windows of the houses, the frog 
people croaking out their horror and surprise on 
the edge of the lake itself. 

Yiperena, feeling very well pleased with her 
day’s work, had gone off chuckling, as we have 
seen. She believed that not a single soul had 
escaped ; but in this, as you will soon find, she 
was mistaken. 

A young shepherd, named Chrystal, had been, 
at the time of the Witch’s visit, high up on the 
side of one of the seven mountains. The night 
before he had spent in watching over a sick lamb, 
and feeling tired, he had sought this lonely spot 
[ 184 ] 


QUEEN OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 


in order to snatch, if possible, a few hours’ repose. 
He had slept, therefore, through all these hap- 
penings ; and when he awoke he could hardly 
believe his senses, for there at his feet was a lake 
that he had never seen before, while the familiar 
plain, the Palace and surroundings, his own 
humble cottage, all, all alike had vanished. 

Chrystal sprang to his feet, and as he did so, 
a confused babble of laughter, weeping, singing, 
and brief bits of curious talk came to his ears. 
He stopped, looked about, and could see nothing ; 
but still the thing went on, and at last came calls 
for help. 

The shepherd, now quite awake, ran quickly in 
the direction from which the cries proceeded, 
and at length, guided by the sound, stumbled 
upon an opening in the underbrush where a 
parrot struggled, caught fast by one wing in a 
trap. Now we all know that parrots can talk, 
and that some can talk very well indeed, but 
I think one would hardly expect any bird to 
converse as sensibly as did this one ; for, the 
instant it clapped eyes upon Chrystal, it said in 
clear, crisp tones and just a little impatiently, — 
[ 185 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


“ Come, come, my good lad ! Don’t stand 
there staring, but get me out of this trap as soon 
as possible. And take care now ; don’t, for the 
world, let anything happen to my two crimson 
tail-feathers.” 

“ I ’ll try,” said the shepherd humbly, just as 
he would have answered a person; and he 
accordingly loosened the spring of the trap, and 
in a few moments the parrot was free. One 
wing, however, had been hurt, and Chrystal, who 
was very kind-hearted, placed the bird on his 
shoulder and was about to offer to take him 
home and bind up the injured member, when it 
suddenly came to the shepherd’s mind that 
now, alas ! he had no home to which he could 
go. 

“ I know,” said the parrot, as if in answer to 
the unspoken thought. “I know all about it. 
Poor lad ! ” and in a few words he told the 
youth all that had occurred during his brief 
slumber. “ I hate Viperena,” he continued. 
“ She has done friends of mine many a bad turn 
before, and you to-day have done me a good 
one. I know you love your Queen. Do you 
[ 186 ] 


QUEEN OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 


not wish to rescue her and all these kind neigh- 
bors of yours as well ? ” 

“ If I only might ! ” answered Chrystal, his 
eyes bright with hope. “ I would risk my life 
a thousand times if I could but save the Lady 
Yera and give her back her kingdom.” 

“Well,” said the parrot, “to do so will be no 
easy matter, but I will help you as far as I can. 
Perhaps you have noticed,” he went on, “ that I 
am no ordinary bird. In fact, I belonged for 
years to the powerful Wizard Alderbarino. 
From him I learned much, and his store of 
treasure I will show you. There are, however, 
but three things there that will be of use to you 
in your task, and you must depend on your wit 
and courage and upon my wisdom for the rest. 
To-night let us feed on the fruits of this orchard 
on the mountain side and let us sleep. To-mor- 
row I will guide you to Alderbarino’s store- 
house.” 

To this the shepherd agreed, and the next 
morning the parrot, who was still too lame to 
fly, perched upon Chry stal’s shoulder and 
directed his steps. The mountains had always 
[ 187 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


been thought impassable ; but the wise bird 
knew of a foot-path that, though often narrow 
and perilous, could still be traversed, and it was 
over this dangerous road that the shepherd 
journeyed. 

The Wizard’s treasure lay hid in the desert 
that encircled the other side of the seven 
mountains. By the parrot’s advice Chrystal 
filled his drinking-flask with water from a run- 
ning brook and his pockets with fruit, and thus 
laden he at length reached the end of the first 
stage of the journey. 

“ At sunrise I will show you the treasure,” 
said the parrot ; and at sunrise he was as good as 
his word, for he flew straight as a dart to a big 
bunch of prickly cactus that concealed an iron 
ring that lay in the sand of the desert. 

The shepherd at once obeyed the further 
command to pull on this with all his might, and 
succeeded in lifting up a flat stone that covered 
a flight of steps leading downward. These 
Chrystal descended, and found himself in a 
cavern hollowed out of rock and lit with many 
colored lamps. The parrot hopped on briskly 
[ 188 ] 


QUEEN OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 

before him, and the shepherd did not linger over 
the great heaps of gold, silver, gems, and precious 
stuffs that were strewn carelessly about on every 
side. 

u My Master is long since dead,” said the par- 
rot, “ and no one claims his wealth. Were he 
present he would give freely of his store. Take 
then this dagger, this scroll, and this bunch of 
herbs. With the first you can prick the magic 
bubble, the prison of your Queen ; with the 
potent words written on the second you can turn 
yourself into a white mouse with ruby eyes ; and 
lastly, a mouthful of these herbs will change 
you back to your proper shape once more.” 

Then the parrot told the shepherd what further 
he must do ; and Chrystal, having thanked him 
warmly, again ascended the winding stair, re- 
placed the stone, and proceeded on his way, the 
friendly bird sometimes perched on his shoulder 
and sometimes flying slowly before him. 

By and by they came to a town ; and here 
Chrystal took his stand in the open market-place, 
and sang so sweetly that a crowd had soon 
gathered about him. When he had finished he 
[ 189 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


gave his cap to the parrot, who took it in his 
beak and hopped gravely about from one person 
to another ; and this pleased the bystanders as 
much as the singing had done, so that coppers and 
even silver coins fell thick and fast into the cap. 
In this manner the two travelling companions 
were able to pay their way at the inns where 
they stopped, and all the time they were drawing 
nearer to the Witch’s abode. 

At last one evening about dusk they reached 
it, — a grim old Castle enough, but very com- 
fortable within, for Viperena always gave herself 
the best of everything. Chrystal made his way 
to the kitchen, and was soon on friendly terms 
with the Cook, while the parrot flew straight up 
to the Witch’s chamber, and there did so many 
curious tricks and recited poetry so prettily that 
the wicked sorceress took quite a fancy to the 
bird, and bade her attendants bring in a golden 
perch for him to stand upon, and the choicest of 
hemp seed and other fine things for him to eat. 

That night, as had been arranged, Chrystal 
changed himself into a white mouse with ruby 
eyes, and when Yiperena was asleep he crept up 
[ 190 ] 


QUEEN OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 

on her bed and bit her on the toe. At this the 
parrot screamed loudly, “ Thieves ! thieves ! ” 
and the startled Witch sprang across the room 
at a bound, and seized her most precious belong- 
ing, her book of magic, from its secret hiding- 
place, while the white mouse scuttled into a 
hole and escaped. 

Now this was just what the parrot wished, for 
he wanted to learn the whereabouts of Yiperena’ s 
written spells, since it was one of these which 
had caused the ruin of the Queen of the Seven 
Mountains ; and to undo the mischief it was 
necessary to repeat the magic words backward. 
During the next day the parrot tried to open 
the book when the Witch’s back was turned, but 
the clasp refused to move for all his efforts. 

So that night the white mouse crept in as 
before and bit the slumbering Yiperena on the 
finger. Waking in a rage and seeing the cul- 
prit, the Witch screamed and threw the magic 
book at the small creature. It missed by the 
tiniest part of an inch, and hit the ground so 
hard that the clasp flew open, — a thing which, 
fortunately, Yiperena never noticed, though she 
[ 191 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


kept the book so closely with her that the parrot 
had no chance to look within its covers. 

The third night the wily old hag hid her big 
black cat in the room, and when at dawn the 
white mouse came softly in and bit the Witch 
on the nose, the cat sprang out at him, and I 
fear that poor Chrystal’s last moment would 
have come then and there, if the parrot with 
great courage and presence of mind had not 
instantly flung himself on the cat and buffeted 
him so fiercely that the mouse was able a third 
time to plunge down a convenient hole and 
so escape. 

Without losing a moment the parrot seized 
the magic book, which during all this excite- 
ment was lying forgotten on the table, and flew 
out of the window ; when he was joined immedi- 
ately by the shepherd, who had meantime eaten 
of the Wizard’s herbs and had so regained his 
proper shape. 

Quickly they fled through the lightening dusk 
to a spot where the wise bird knew help and 
safety awaited them. Viperena would soon dis- 
cover her loss, and then woe betide the culprits 
[ 192 ] 


QUEEN OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 


if once within her clutches. So without pause 
they hastened onward, and at last, with a sigh 
of relief, the bird pointed with his claw to a 
circle of ancient trees, from within which sounded 
a tremendous chattering and commotion. 

“ The King of the Parrots holds court in 
yonder grove,” said he ; and Chrystal, following 
close, was soon in the royal presence. 

Here parrots of all colors and sizes met his 
wondering eyes, and perched on a massive limb 
above the rest in solitary grandeur, the shep- 
herd beheld the head of the flock, the most 
illustrious and ancient of them all. To this 
superior being Chrystal’s guide did reverence, 
and, silence having fallen on the Court, he told 
his story. 

“ My wisdom, most dread Sovereign, is not suf- 
ficient for the task,” said the bird in conclusion. 
“ Here is the Witch’s book, but I would beseech 
your Majesty to point out the particular charm 
that Viperena has used to work her wicked will 
on Vera, the Queen of the Seven Mountains, that 
this young man may undo the spell by reciting 
it backward.” 


13 


[ 193 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


“ Will you give in return your left crimson 
tail-feather ? ” asked the King. 

The parrot hesitated, but the shepherd’s 
pleading eyes were fixed upon him, and after a 
moment’s silent struggle he at last consented ; 
whereupon the aged Monarch gravely marked 
with his beak a line or two of black, — curiously 
formed characters, which Chrystal immediately 
learned by heart, being careful, however, always 
to begin at the last letter and so on to the first. 

He had hardly fixed the magic words firmly in 
his mind, however, when a dark cloud overspread 
the sky, lightning blazed in the heavens, and a 
deafening peal of thunder rent the air, while on 
the instant down from above swooped the Bat, 
with Viperena, in a hideous rage, seated upon its 
back. 

Now nobody knows what might have hap- 
pened had not the parrot with his usual presence 
of mind called out hurriedly : “ Save us ! Save 
us ! Lord and Master ! Save us, great King, and 
my right crimson tail-feather shall be yours.” 

At these words the old Monarch spoke briefly 
in command, and at his royal order the whole 
[ 194 ] 


QUEEN OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 


flock of parrots rose at once in the air and attacked 
the wicked Witch with beak and claw. Yiperena 
fought desperately in turn, with tooth and nail, 
but she could not remember at that moment any 
of the wicked spells she had learned by heart, 
and her feathered enemies left her little time for 
reflection. 

At last, thoroughly frightened, the Witch de- 
cided to change her form. She would turn her- 
self into a parrot and thus escape among the 
crowd from her foes ; but, as I have said, in the 
stress and hurry of battle she could not remem- 
ber part of what she had meant to say, and so, 
though she succeeded in changing herself into 
the desired shape, she forgot something very 
important, for she left the shell of her proper 
form upon the ground. It was just like the 
husk of an ear of corn when the corn itself has 
been taken out, but the parrots knew that if it 
were destroyed, never, never could Viperena 
change back again, but must always remain in 
the shape she had chosen. 

So, led by Chrystal’s friend, they swooped 
down upon the empty shell, and with such right 
[ 195 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


good-will pecked and clawed away at it that in 
a few moments nothing but shreds and patches 
remained, while the real Viperena, with a shriek 
of despair and anger, vanished in the distance. 

The magic book had met in the fray with a 
like fate, so Chrystal was very glad indeed that 
he had first learned the charm he had come so 
many weary miles to seek. 

When all was over and the ruffled birds had 
settled once more within the grove, the parrot, 
like the gentleman he was, came up without a 
murmur and plucked out his two cherished 
crimson tail-feathers and presented them to his 
King. 

“ I am but a dull gray thing now, dear 
Chrystal,” he murmured. 

“But more beautiful to me than any other 
living bird,” the shepherd answered, as with 
faltering voice he tried to thank his faithful 
friend for all his kindness. 

Bidding farewell to King and Court, the two 
now started on their homeward journey ; and 
very happy and contented they were, for they 
thought that now all their troubles were over, 
[ 196 ] 


QUEEN OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 


and that it only remained to undo the harm that 
Viperena had wrought, and restore the Queen 
and her subjects to their former joyful life. 
f^But, alas ! even the wise parrot was for once 
mistaken, for he had not fully understood the 
malice of the Witch, who, if she could do no 
more harm in person, could and would still try 
her best to injure Chrystal and his feathered 
friend and prevent their rescue of the Queen, 
through the wicked help of another. 

So it was that just as the shepherd and 
his companion neared their journey’s end — 
yes, even in the shadow of the seven moun- 
tains — a Giant sprang from behind a massive 
boulder, and swinging a net, had in an instant 
the unsuspecting parrot caught fast in its toils. 
Flourishing a knotty club in the other hand, the 
monster now advanced upon poor Chrystal, who 
stood stock still and dumb with surprise at the 
suddenness and completeness of the attack. 

“I’ll kill you first, my fine fellow,” roared 
the Giant, u and then I ’ll wring the neck of that 
gabbling busybody in the net. I’m up to his 
tricks, I can tell you, and he ’ll have no chance 
[ 197 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


to fly in my face and beat me with his wings 
as he did my poor friend Viperena ; ” and with 
another flourish of his club the Giant came 
forward, and Chrystal barely dodged the first 
terrible blow. 

“ Turn into a mouse and escape ! ” shrieked 
the parrot. 

u And leave you ! Never ! ” answered the 
youth, stoutly. 

u Then pluck forth quickly your dagger and 
pierce his heart ! ” cried the bird, flapping his 
wings up and down in the greatest excitement. 

Now it was all very well to say “ Pierce the 
Giant’s heart ; ” but poor Chrystal could hardly 
reach as high as the monster’s knee, and besides 
had his hands full with trying to avoid the rain 
of blows from the great club, any one of which 
would have settled the case and forever. It was 
fortunate indeed that the shepherd was so much 
smaller than his foe and so very much more 
nimble, for it was his only chance for life, and 
had the monster been a trifle less clumsy, my 
story would now come to a very sad ending. 

But Chrystal was quick, and the Giant grew 

[ 198 ] 


QUEEN OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 


more and more angry, and there is nothing like 
anger, you know, for making one stupid. That, 
I think, must have been the reason that Vipere- 
na’s friend forgot all about the unevenness of the 
ground on which he was standing ; at any rate, 
just as he thought he had at last caught the 
shepherd, his big foot struck a rock and over he 
fell, crashing to the earth like an oak that is 
felled by the wood-cutter. 

In an instant the shepherd had flung himself 
on the heaving chest of his half- stunned enemy 
and held the dagger poised above his heart. 

“ This is a magic dagger,” the youth said 
sternly, “ and can pierce your tough hide with 
the greatest ease. Speak! What will you do 
if I spare your life ? ’’ 

“I will go away and never trouble you 
again,” replied the Giant, now thoroughly 
cowed, “ and I will make you rich for life.” 

“ Leave the country you shall,” answered 
Chrystal, “ but as for riches, I can have as 
much as I care for, since the treasures of the 
Wizard Alderbarino are mine for the taking.” 

Now when the Giant heard this potent name 
[ 199 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


he was more frightened than ever and began to 
beg hard for mercy. “ I too am something of 
a magician,” he said, “and I’ll gladly perform 
any task that may be within my power.” 

“ Can you change the color of my friend the 
parrot ? ” asked the youth. 

“ Yes, indeed,” eagerly replied the Giant, and 
glad to be let off so easily. 

“ Then,” said the shepherd, “ I would have 
you restore to him two crimson tail-feathers : 
let them be of length and beauty such as no 
other bird can boast. Give him as well wings 
of blue and silver, a yellow breast, and a rose- 
colored crest tipped with green. Make him 
shine as the peacock and the humming-bird, 
and let his claws and bill be henceforth of the 
purest gold. Release him from the net, humbly 
beg his forgiveness, and you are free.” 

All these things the Giant did without delay, 
and the delight of the parrot may easily be 
imagined. Chrystal too was very much pleased 
at the fine appearance which his feathered friend 
presented ; and as for the enemy, he took to 
his heels without delay, for he felt no desire 
[ 200 ] 


QUEEN OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 


whatever to meddle further with any acquaint- 
ance of the Wizard Alderbarino. 

The shepherd and the parrot therefore once 
more peacefully resumed their journey, and 
after a hard day’s climb they reached the top of 
the mountain and saw again, on the other side, 
the blue waters of the lake, the lily and its 
precious freight. In the morning the shepherd 
made a raft of water rushes woven close together 
and bound with wood from the mountain’s side. 

The parrot pretended- to help in this work, 
also, but I must confess that he did on this 
occasion more talking than working, for he now 
saw himself for the first time since the wonderful 
change in his appearance. It was, in fact, hard 
for the shepherd to keep from laughing, for his 
friend was so charmed with his mirrored image 
in the waters of the lake, that he strutted about 
in quite a foolish fashion, and nobody who saw 
him then would ever have imagined him to be 
the wise bird that we have found him. 

However, when the raft was done, the parrot 
became more sensible, and took his familiar 
place on Chrystal’s shoulder, while the shepherd 
[ 201 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


rowed toward the centre of the lake. Here he 
moored his craft to a strong lily-pad, and draw- 
ing forth the Wizard’s dagger, pricked the bubble 
that had so long held the lovely Vera captive. 

It vanished into space on the instant, — just 
as your soap bubbles do when you touch them 
with your finger. Then Chrystal began to recite 
the magic charm backward, and as he proceeded, 
the Queen’s lovely eyes slowly opened, the 
waters sank, the lily closed its petals and disap- 
peared, the gold and silver fish began all at 
once to look less like fish and more like gor- 
geously dressed men and women, the frogs 
stopped croaking, the eels ceased to wriggle, and 
the swans surrounded their waking Queen, their 
own plumage changing back to gowns of snowy 
tissue. 

At length the shepherd spoke the final word, 
and there before his eyes was the scene un- 
changed, just as Yiperena had first found it 
except for his own presence and that of the 
parrot in the great Audience Hall of the King- 
dom of the Seven Mountains. The Lord High 
Chancellor was going on with his speech, and 
[ 202 ] 


QUEEN OE THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 

had even said “the munificent hospitality of 
your illustrious benevolence/’ for he was nat- 
urally a little mixed, when the Queen’s eye 
caught the gorgeous plumage of the parrot, and 
she waved her hand for silence. 

As she did so, the memory of Viperena’s visit 
and its dreadful consequence came back to all, 
and Clirystal stepping forward knelt before the 
throne and told his story. While he spoke the 
Queen’s wonderful eyes grew softer yet and 
a tender smile played about her mouth, till, 
when he had finished, a look from her restrained 
the waiting multitude, eager to welcome their 
deliverer. 

“ My lords and gentlemen, and you, ladies 
of the Court, and faithful subjects, it is meet 
and fitting that the birthday celebration of your 
Queen, so rudely and perilously interrupted by 
the wicked Witch, should now go on with all 
due pomp and ceremony, and with more than 
customary merry-making. But for this brave 
youth, your fate and mine were sealed. To 
you, then, and to me a gift. To you a King 
and to me a husband. Rise, Clirystal, — from 
[ 203 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


to-day my consort and Ruler of the Kingdom 
of the Seven Mountains ! ” 

Hardly had the Queen ceased when thunders 
of applause rose from the listening throng, and 
even the little children clapped their tiny hands 
with glee. 

With a splendor unknown before to even that 
rich country was the marriage immediately cele- 
brated, and was followed by the coronation of 
the once humble shepherd. 

As for the parrot, he, as you may well believe, 
was not forgotten, but waddled pompously be- 
hind the newly wedded pair, and during the 
service held up the Queen’s train with his 
beak. At the banquet that concluded the cere- 
monies, he sat at her Majesty’s left, King 
Chrystal being seated at her right, and at the 
feast was fed from golden dishes by the Queen’s 
own hand. 

Vera and Chrystal ruled their subjects peace- 
fully and well, and the only person who some- 
times was discontented was the Lord High 
Chancellor, who was occasionally jealous of the 
parrot, as he felt that his advice was not always 
[ 204 ] 


QUEEN OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS 


followed when it chanced to differ from that of 
the wise old bird. 

Viperena was never heard from again, and 
the Giant did not try to climb any one of the 
seven mountains. 

King Chrystal visited the Wizard’s under- 
ground storehouse once more, and the jewels, 
gold, and silver which he found there were paid 
into the royal treasury for a fund for buying 
Chr^^a^ presents, and candy and toys at other 
seasons, poor children. This kind deed 
made him still more beloved by his people, and 
wishing to please him in return, they raised 
Tnoney for a Home for Aged and Destitute 
Parrots, and made his feathered friend the Head 
Director, an act which was warmly appreciated 
by their grateful Ruler. 

So without disturbance from within or trouble 
from without the years passed on, and if you 
should see in your travels the Kingdom of the 
Seven Mountains, I think you will still find 
people who speak with regret of the golden age 
of the reign of Vera the Good and King Chrys- 
tal the First, her husband. 

[ 205 ] 



VIII 

PRINCESS FLORIZELLE AND THE 
CHEST OF GOLD 

W HEN Princess Florizelle was seven 
years old, her royal mamma took 
her by the hand and led her out 
into the garden. There in one corner stood a 
beautiful rosebush, and upon it seven snow- 
white half-opened buds. 

“One for each year of your life, my little 
daughter/' said the Queen, “and from to-day 
you must not forget to tend and water and 
[ 206 ] 



FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 

love this particular rosebush, for its welfare is 
very important to your happiness.’" 

Then she led Florizelle back into the Palace, 
and when they had reached the royal nursery, 
she took the Princess on her knee and told her 
all about the matter. 

You see, Florizelle came of a very noble and 
very ancient family, and for more years than 
any one could count, the eldest son or daughter 
of the reigning house had always been given at 
the age of seven a rosebush like the one then 
blooming in the Palace garden. It was a magic 
rosebush, so that it did not matter in the least 
at what time of the year these birthdays came, 
there were always seven beautiful rosebuds 
waiting. Afterwards — that was another matter. 
If the heir or heiress to the throne were cruel or 
vain or lazy, the rosebush would droop or even 
die; and if it were not carefully and lovingly 
tended, it would soon show it in the stunted, 
withered flowers it would yield. 

When any of these things happened, it became 
a serious matter, for at seventeen the royal 
owner had to dig down into the earth about its 
[ 207 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


roots and there would find a chest of gold, and 
the gift within depended on his or her former 
conduct and the way in which the rosebush 
had flourished. 

Thus, as the Queen told her little daughter, 
strange things had happened. Florizelle’s grand- 
father had found a sword in his chest, and with 
it had vanquished all his enemies ; another an- 
cestor had his chest filled with ducats, with 
which he had been able to bring his inheritance 
back to prosperity and fruitfulness. 

One high-born dame had grown up selfish 
and neglectful of everything but her own pleasure 
and comfort. Her rosebush had been but a 
stilted, barren plant, and in her chest she found 
only a pinch of dust. What happened then was 
a sad and awful warning to her descendants, 
for from that hour she grew daily thinner and 
thinner, and skinnier and more dried-up looking, 
till at last she actually blew away like the dust 
in the casket. 

Another Princess had been careful to water 
her rosebush and tend it daily, but she did not 
love it in the least, or anybody or anything, 
[ 208 ] 


FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


and was hard and cruel to all about her. Her 
rosebush put on great thorns and bore no 
flowers whatsoever, and when she opened her 
golden chest, she shrieked aloud in mingled 
fear and anger, for here was only a heap of 
fetters. In her rage she chopped the plant into 
a thousand pieces ; but this did her no good, for 
a little later her subjects rebelled, and she was 
thrown into prison, and wore for the rest of her 
life chains like those which she had found in 
the chest of gold. 

When Florizelle heard all this, her eyes grew 
big with wonder, and she shrank closer to her 
mothers side ; but the good Queen, reading her 
thoughts, bade her take courage, for she told the 
Princess that if only she were gentle and true 
and loving, and did not neglect her charge, she 
would be sure to find a fair gift of great value 
in her golden casket; and that she must cherish 
whatever she found there, and never lose it or 
give it away, for though it sometimes happened 
that the magic present brought trouble in the 
beginning, it would be only working in its own 
way for the owner’s real happiness. 

14 [ 209 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


These words sank deep into the little maiden's 
heart, and as the years went by the rosebush 
grew and flourished mightily, and Florizelle 
watched over it with unfailing care, till at last 
nobody could see the silvery sheen of the magic 
flowers without thinking at once of the Prin- 
cess, just as nobody could see the Princess with- 
out comparing her immediately in his mind with 
the pure fragrance-laden blossoms. 

The King and Queen were delighted, for here 
was truth and no flattery, and they and all the 
Court and of course Florizelle herself, could 
hardly wait for the eventful seventeenth birthday 
to dawn. At length it came, and with hands 
trembling with excitement the Princess seized 
the silver shovel which the Head Gardener 
presented to her, and began to dig down among 
the roots of the fairy rosebush. 

Sure enough, in a few moments she struck 
something hard, and soon uncovered the corner 
of a carved and golden chest. These magic 
caskets varied in size, and Florizelle’s was not 
very big. When at last it was lifted from its 
earthy bed, it was seen that on two sides of it 
[ 210 ] 


FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


were graven scenes in the Princess’s childhood 
and girlhood, while the other two sides were 
smoothly polished ; and the Queen Mother ex- 
plained that this was not unusual, and that the 
doings and life of the Princess would magically 
appear carved on the blank sides of the casket 
just as soon as anything of importance should 
happen to her. 

Florizelle, at her father’s command, now pressed 
the spring that opened the magic box, and the 
lid flew back, disclosing a small pair of sky-blue 
velvet shoes, thickly encrusted with pearls. The 
Princess, hardly knowing what to make of this 
strange gift, slipped the shoes on her feet, and 
at once she felt an irresistible desire to leave 
the Palace and seek her fortune in the outer 
world. In fact, the wish was so strong that it 
was hard work for her to tarry long enough to 
explain matters to her father and mother, and 
it was quite impossible for her to wait for an 
escort. The King and Queen realized that this 
was fairy work, and could not be gainsaid, and 
they therefore sadly watched Florizelle trip 
lightly away, and comforted themselves as best 
[ 211 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


they could with the thought that since the 
Princess was so sweet and loving, the gift must 
have been a good gift, and that if she cherished 
it and obeyed its promptings she would return 
safe and happy ; and that in the mean time, 
though they could not help or hinder, they 
could watch the new carving on the golden 
chest as fast as it appeared, and so know some- 
thing of what was happening to their absent 
daughter. 

We will leave them, therefore, in their Palace 
and return to the Princess, who by this time 
had reached the outskirts of her father’s city and 
was now on the King’s highway. The blue 
shoes seemed to have wings, so easily did they 
go along, and Florizelle, who had never walked 
farther than a short stroll about the royal park 
or to and from her carriage, was not in the least 
tired. 

It was very interesting to her, this view of the 
open country, and she liked the loneliness, for 
by this time she had left even the outlying ham- 
lets behind and there was not in sight so much 
as a peasant to stand and stare and pull his fore- 
[ 212 ] 


FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


lock, or a marketwoman to drop a courtesy as 
she passed. Before her stretched dark and 
lonelier still a strip of woodland, and without 
faltering’, the blue shoes made their way along 
a narrow path that led deeper and deeper into 
the depths of the forest. Here it was always 
twilight, and Florizelle began to be a little 
frightened, the great trees were so solemn and 
still and the silence so unbroken. But the shoes 
went on as swiftly as before and only stopped 
when a gruff voice bade the Princess halt. 

I Very much frightened now indeed, Florizelle 
obeyed, for in all her life no one had ever spoken 
to her like this, nor had her eyes ever rested on 
such a group of men as now came forth from 
behind the trees and quite surrounded the trem- 
bling Princess. They looked fierce and wild 
and wicked, as indeed they really were, for poor 
Florizelle had walked straight into the clutches 
of a famous robber band, and with rough hands 
they now tore off her gown of silver tissue, her 
necklace, rings, and bracelets, and even the new 
velvet shoes, whose garniture of pearls made 
the thieves’ eyes glisten. Then carelessly throw- 
[ 213 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


in g the Princess a ragged skirt and bodice, such 
as some beggar maid might wear, to replace her 
own beautiful frock, the thieves departed, having 
already begun to quarrel over the division of 
the spoils. 

Florizelle threw herself at the foot of a giant 
oak and wept bitterly, till at last, worn out with 
sorrow and fatigue, she fell asleep. When she 
awoke her outstretched hand touched something 
soft, and there to her surprise were the magic 
shoes, none the worse for their adventure. She 
put them on, and straightway turned to the 
right at their bidding, and before long the Prin- 
cess found herself on the outskirts of a village 
which she had never seen before. 

Feeling not only tired, but hungry, she 
stopped at the first cottage and knocked at the 
door. 

“ Who is there ? ” asked a voice from within. 

“ The Princess Florizelle,” answered the 
maiden. 

At this the door swung open and an aged 
crone stuck her head out. When she saw the 
waiting girl, she almost choked with laughter, 
[ 214 ] 







FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


for, as you must know, there are many people 
in this world who never see anything besides 
a person’s clothes and rate everybody according 
to the cut and quality of their raiment. Any 
one with half an eye would have known at once 
that, despite the rags, this was a true princess ; 
but such an idea never entered into the old 
woman’s head as, putting forth a skinny hand, 
she pulled the shrinking Florizelle over the 
threshold. 

As the Princess entered the cottage, the fire- 
light shone on the pearls which ornamented the 
blue velvet slippers, and the crone’s eye was 
caught by their lustre. At once she made up her 
mind by hook or by crook to get possession of 
these jewels, and suddenly changing her manner, 
became very polite and agreeable, and setting 
forth bread and milk and a few dried dates, 
bade the Princess eat as much as she wanted. 

This Florizelle was very glad to do, and she 
suspected no evil when the crone asked her to 
come with her to a friend’s house, “ where,” said 
she, “ you may find shelter.’’ 

The old woman took her straight to the home 
[ 215 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


of the village Judge, and there, to the Princess’s 
amazement, she accused the royal maiden of 
having stolen the magic shoes, for she went on, 
“ How could a kitchen wench — her ragged 
clothes well showing what she is — how could 
such a one ever own shoes with pearls like 
these?” Then she whispered secretly to the 
Judge, whose covetous eyes by this time had 
fixed themselves in their turn on the velvet 
shoes, and the upshot of it all was that the 
spoils were divided between them, the crone 
getting one shoe and the Judge the other. 

Then the poor Princess was condemned, as 
punishment, to labor for the hag as servant for 
a year, and the two wicked old people parted, 
well pleased with their day’s work. 

It certainly seemed as though the gift in the 
golden casket had thus far brought nothing but 
trouble; but Florizelle remembered, however, 
the Queen Mother’s words, and so flung herself 
to sleep on the wretched bed of straw provided 
for her, with the thought of better days to 
follow. 

In the morning, to her repeated surprise, the 

[ 216 ] 


FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


velvet shoes were lying on the floor by her side, 
just as if nothing had happened ; and she put 
them on, hoping they would bear her swiftly 
away, and was both astonished and disappointed 
when they seemed perfectly content to remain 
where they were. A pair of clumsy wooden 
shoes had been provided for her, and the 
Princess accordingly slipped these on over her 
velvet slippers, so that they were quite con- 
cealed from view. 

Hardly had she done so when her new mis- 
tress appeared, in a rage over the disappearance 
of her new-found pearls, and, aiming a blow at 
the Princess, bade her harshly get about her work, 
as no idle mouths would be fed in that cottage. 

Poor Florizelle accordingly finished dressing 
as quickly as possible, and all that day worked 
hard for her exacting and complaining mistress ; 
and not alone that day, but for many days, until, 
Princess as she was, there was little left for her 
to learn about housework, and even the old 
crone could find no fault with her butter and 
cheese, or with the various dishes that she 
learned to make. 


[ 217 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


As the magic shoes bore her about her tasks 
but never away from them, Florizelle tried to 
please her mistress by inventing several new 
pastries and sweetmeats, and succeeded so well 
that the old woman began to boast of her ser- 
vant’s skill, till at length word of it reached the 
ears of the Head Cook of the King who ruled 
over the country adjoining that owned by the 
Princess’s father. 

He accordingly sent for Florizelle, and her 
mistress having very unwillingly given her leave 
to go and the velvet shoes now pointing in the 
same direction, the royal maiden began to hope 
that her troubles were nearing an end. 

Now the Head Cook was very fat and lazy, 
and when he found that this new kitchen wench 
knew her business, he thought it would be a fine 
idea to let her do most of his work, and if it 
were satisfactory, he would reap the reward ; 
and if it didn’t suit, why, Florizelle was there 
to bear the blame. So he got a comfortable 
armchair and stationed himself in a sunny cor- 
ner of the kitchen, and puffed out his cheeks to 
make himself look important, and occasionally 
[ 218 ] 


FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


said, “ More salt,” “Less pepper, : ” or something 
of that sort, just to show that he was master 
of that particular department ; while Florizelle 
tripped busily about in her velvet shoes, which 
the Head Cook thought rather queer foot-gear 
for a serving-maid, and also that the pearls were 
■undoubtedly imitation, and then gave himself 
no more concern over the matter. 

When the dinner was served, the young King 
was delighted. Fie thought, to be sure, mucli 
more of hunting than of fine eating, and never 
lingered long at the banquet ; but something 
about this particular cookery struck him as 
being very unusually nice, and he sent his com- 
pliments to the Head Cook and a purse of gold, 
in consequence. 

Now it chanced that there was a certain 
small Page who had seen Florizelle and had 
fallen in love with her sweet ways and lovely 
face. This Page disliked the Ilead Cook for 
being so pompous and disagreeable as much as 
he liked the new kitchen maid. Florizelle al- 
ways had a piece of citron or an orange in her 
apron pocket for the pretty boy, and the Head 
[ 219 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Cook had, on the other hand, only a scowl for 
him and never so much as a sugared doughnut ; 
so when he saw that the wrong person alto- 
gether was getting day by day the King’s 
rewards, he stepped up to his royal master 
and whispered the true state of the case into 
his listening ear. Something the Page said 
about the beauty of the new serving wench 
and the wonderful shoes she wore made the 
King curious, and he ordered Florizelle to come 
before him. 

The royal messenger hurried her away with- 
out giving the Princess time to so much as put 
on a clean frock ; but the King was a very dif- 
ferent person from the old crone, the Judge, 
and the Head Cook, and no humble attire 
could hide the noble air of breeding with which 
this maiden bore herself when ushered into the 
royal presence. 

Her beauty, too, was quite as apparent as her 
grace, and when on being questioned she re- 
plied, “I am the Princess Florizelle,” the 
King believed her at once, and found nothing 
to laugh at in the statement. So lie seated 
[ 220 ] 


FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


the former kitchen maid at his right hand, and, 
after dismissing his courtiers, begged her to 
tell him all that had happened and why he had 
found her in such an unlikely place for a lady 
of rank to be. 

Florizelle at once related the whole story, and 
the longer the King listened and the longer he 
looked at the maiden, the more enraptured did 
he become; and the longer the Princess talked 
and the longer she looked at the King, the more 
enchanted was she with her auditor, till at last 
it was hard to say which had fallen the more 
deeply in love. 

Things having come to this pass, it is not sur- 
prising that they both had the same thought at 
the same time. What if the magic shoes should 
suddenly bear her away from happiness and 
new-found peace, only to plunge her into new 
sorrows and difficulties? 

The Princess knew that she must go wherever 
they led, and the King knew it too, and I am 
sorry to say that these two hasty young people 
forgot the wise Queen Mothers warning, and, 
Florizelle consenting, the King tossed the magic 

[ m ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


slippers into the fire that blazed on the hearth 
near at hand. 

Hardly had he done so when an icy blast 
blew through the throne room and put the fire 
out ; at the same instant the lightning flashed, 
thunder pealed with deafening roars that shook 
the whole Palace, and Florizelle uttered a cry 
of dismay, for she had tried to reach the King's 
sidej and, behold, her feet would not move. 
The terrible storm raged on, and at its height 
a blaze of lightning revealed a figure draped 
in shimmering raiment, with uplifted threat- 
ening finger and beautiful, angry face. 

"I am the Fairy of the Rosebush and of the 
Golden Chest," said she. “ Had you trusted 
me a little longer, you, King, would have 
won Florizelle as your bride ; and you, Prin- 
cess, would have returned at once to your 
home, a great and happy Queen. Now for 
your disobedience I will take from you the 
magic slippers and the chest of gold, and un- 
til they be restored to you, as a living, breath- 
ing statue shall you be, for not one step can 
you take until you again wear the shoes that 

, [ m ] 


FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


were about to lead you into the paths of joy 
and peace.” 

So saying, the Fairy disappeared, and with 
her went the storm that had preceded her com- 
ing, but the sun shone through the clouds with- 
out in vain, for darkness had fallen alike on 
King and Princess and their hearts were sad 
within them. But even in this new misfortune, 
for which, to be sure, Florizelle was partly to 
blame, the sweetness of the Princess’s temper 
did not desert her, and she tried to cheer the 
King, who was quite desperate at the plight of 
his sweetheart, and could be consoled only 
at the thought of finding and putting on the 
maiden’s feet with his own hand the self-same 
slippers he had so rashly thrown in the fire. 

Meanwhile poor Florizelle was placed by 
tender hands on a flower-strewn couch, music 
and every sort of entertainment was ordered for 
her, and the King bade his Court obey her as 
their mistress, since she was to be his Queen 
should fortune favor him in the quest which he 
was about to undertake. The Prime Minister 
was meanwhile to rule the kingdom during the 

[ m] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


rightful sovereign’s absence, and the King com- 
manded him to guard the Princess as his own 
life and never let her out of his keeping for an 
instant. 

Then came the parting ; and the Princess felt 
her misfortune keenly, since it was now impos- 
sible for her to follow her lover even so far as 
the Palace courtyard, there to see him mount the 
horse that was to bear him hence. As for the 
King, he dared not linger, lest his heart fail him 
altogether, and he therefore spurred his steed 
forward without so much as a single backward 
glance at the Palace which held the lady of his 
love. 

He was going now to the home of his old 
Nurse, where a welcome always awaited him 
and where he hoped to find help of some 
kind. She was what is called a White Witch ; 
that is, she dealt in magic, but never to 
the hurt of any living thing. She cured the 
peasants’ cows for miles around, doctored with 
her herbs all the sick of the country-side, 
gave potions to make the maidens comely and 
the men strong, and settled many a dispute 
[ 224 ] 


FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


with words so full of wisdom that none might 
contradict her. 

When the King came riding up, she knew at 
once from his face that he was in sore trouble, 
and, though a man grown, he was still to her the 
child she had held on her knee, and she comforted 
him now much as she used to when in old days 
he had fallen and bumped his princely head. 

So she made him sit down in her warm kitchen 
and tell her all about it, while she donned a new 
lace cap and snowy kerchief in honor of his 
visit, and then she took some tea leaves in a 
saucer and regarded them closely, and at last 
she said, — 

“ The Maiden sleeps 
Till the Mermaid weeps/' 

and bade him seek the golden chest beneath the 
waters of the Seventh Sea. She told him that a 
Mermaid guarded there the chest and its contents, 
and that if he could but make the sea-maiden 
weep, he could get the Fairy’s gift from her and 
so break the spell that bound his own fair 
Princess. 


15 


[ 225 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


“ But Florizelle does n’t sleep,” objected the 
King. “ She can’t move, that’s all.” 

“ It ’s near enough,” answered his old Nurse, 
really testily for her, “ quite near enough for 
poetry. It’s just the same as sleeping if she 
does n’t move, and as for talking, there ’s a 
many that talks in their sleep, I can tell you. 
Now, deary, don’t go to losing time in such 
questions, but come take off your boots till I 
shake in some of my magic fern-seed ; one kind 
makes people invisible when they walk the earth, 
as, of course, you’ve heard, but this kind will 
make it so that you can go under the water with- 
out a-drownden’ of yourself. Nasty, wet place 
it is, too ; but I ’ll slip this onion into your pocket 
and it will keep off the rheumatism. Some says 
a horse-chestnut ’s the thing, but I says an 
onion every time, and so don’t forget it, my 
deary.” 

Then the old Nurse made her darling promise 
to stay one night in the cottage, and had the best 
sheets airing in a trice, and the horse stabled ; 
and in the morning she gave him a fine break- 
fast, with just the sort of flapjacks he had liked 
[ 226 ] 


FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


as a child, and sent him off in the right direction 
in much better spirits. 

So the King rode on and on, and at last, one 
fine morning, he reached the blue rolling waters 
of the Seventh Sea, and turning loose his horse, 
he mounted an overhanging rock and cast him- 
self boldly downward. 

The waters parted and met again above his 
head, and still he sank deeper and deeper, till at 
last his feet touched bottom and he paused to 
look about him. As he did so, a big shark came 
up and nearly knocked him down ; but the King 
drew his sword and valiantly attacked the mon- 
ster, who, to his Majesty’s intense surprise, burst 
out laughing, for the sword-point had not been 
able to penetrate his tough skin and had simply 
tickled him in the ribs. 

A number of mischievous sea-urchins now 
ran along, and began to call after the retreating 
figure of the King in the most disrespectful man- 
ner. “ Look at him,” they cried. “ Look at 
the tailless creature, and not so much as a fin 
about him!” “Nor a scale!” cried another. 
And I do not know what else they might have 

[ m ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


said had not a swordfish policeman stepped up 
and driven them away. 

The King asked this official to kindly point 
out the nearest road to the Mermaid’s Palace, 
and tried hard to remember the directions, but 
only got as far as Eel Grass Grove, off Seaweed 
Avenue, when an enormous lobster caught him 
by the buttonhole and insisted on pouring out 
a long story about some clams who claimed to 
be first cousins, and the King had to use all his 
wit to escape. At last he did get rid of the 
troublesome creature, and was rejoiced to see in 
the green distance the white coral mansion that 
he knew must be the Mermaid’s home. 

In fact, as he went down the long avenue 
with hard sand underfoot and waving sea 
plants overhead that led to this beautiful build- 
ing, the Mermaid herself came out to meet 
him. 

She was indeed a lovely being, with flowing 
sea-green hair of the most fashionable shade, 
eyes deep and changeful as the sea, a white 
skin, and a graceful tail, whose scales of shim- 
mering mother-of-pearl showed at once her 
[228 ] 


FLOllIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


noble birth, as even the most careless observer 
could see. 

The King thought her a sweet creature, and 
she rather fancied him, and, as mermaids have no 
heart, it was impossible for her to go farther. 
She wished indeed that his hair had been the 
right ocean color, and that instead of those two 
awkward legs he might have been fortunate 
enough to have possessed a tail, but even with 
these disadvantages she was prepared to befriend 
him, and was as sorry as it was possible for her 
to be when he explained his mission and asked 
her please to shed a few tears. 

“ I have the chest of gold and its contents 
right enough,” she said, “but very good care 
did the Fairy of the Rosebush take to weave 
a magic spell about them, which you say can 
be broken only by my tears. Alas ! my friend, 
I have no heart and cannot grieve thus if I 
would. But stay awhile in this coral Palace of 
mine, and I will try to make you forget your 
disappointment.” 

So saying, she flung over the Kings shoul- 
ders a chaplet of sea-anemones, which she told 
[ 229 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


him to be careful to wear, since the decoration 
would serve as a safe-conduct among the many 
strange and terrible ocean monsters that he 
would meet, and then bidding him enter the 
inner court of the Palace, she showed him the 
golden casket. 

The King with a cry of joy at once rushed 
forward and tried to lift it in his arms, but 
though he strained and pulled with all his might 
it would not budge an inch for all his efforts. 
The pictured face of Florizelle looking up at 
him from its graven side only increased his 
sorrow, while the Mermaid gazed at him with 
puzzled eyes and silently wondered at the curious 
ways of mortals. 

Then the King tried his best to open the 
golden chest; but here too he was quite as 
unsuccessful, and at last he gave it up for the 
present and tried to console himself with writing 
“ Florizelle ” on the sand as many times as 
possible. 

The Mermaid, finding this rather uninteresting, 
at last invited him to drive with her in the 
chariot of conch shell drawn by mettlesome sea- 
[ 230 ] 


FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


horses and reserved for the use of distinguished 
visitors. 

To this the King assented, and I fear the 
Mermaid thought him rather poor company, for 
he spent the entire time of the drive in telling 
the most mournful stories and then watching her 
closely to see if at least a tear or two would not 
trickle down her cheek. But nothing of the kind 
happened ; and having reached the coral Palace 
once again, the Mermaid began to show him 
some of her treasures. 

It was really a very unusual and interesting 
place, and if the King had been free from care, 
I think he would have enjoyed it all immensely. 
Even as it was, he could not help exclaiming at 
the loveliness of the fringed water plants, and 
at the strings of pearls as big as hazel nuts that 
the Mermaid hung about her milkwhite neck. 
Some of the sights were beautiful and some 
terrible, and some made him forget his troubles 
for the instant and laugh aloud, — as, for ex- 
ample, a crab race, where the victor was the 
one who went backward fastest ; or. a quar- 
rel between two squids, who kept squirting 
[ 231 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


inky water at each other in a very amusing 
fashion. 

Suddenly, however, in the midst of all this 
entertainment, his old Nurse’s last words came 
to his mind, and he bethought him of the onion 
in his pocket. 

At the same instant the Mermaid spoke to 
him and asked him with some pride if he had 
ever looked upon such wonders on the earth 
from whence he had come. 

“ Never,” replied the King; u and yet,” he 
added, u we too have some strange and curious 
things, the like of which you, on your part, I 
am sure have never seen.” 

“ What can they be ? ” answered the Mer- 
maid, bridling and tossing her head. “ You 
have horses, so have we; you have jewels, but 
do they equal my pearls? We have dog-fish 
and cat-fish, and you have dogs and cats. You 
have birds, we have flying fish ; and as for 
flowers, well, you have just been in my conser- 
vatory. Have you anything as fine ? ” 

“ You are quite right,” the King replied 
humbly ; “ but do you know I rather think we 
[ 232 ] 


FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


have better vegetables than you can boast.” 
And before the Mermaid could answer, he 
whipped out from his inner pocket the onion 
which his old Nurse had given him to keep off 
rheumatism and held it out to the Mermaid. 
“ Put it to your nose,” he said, u and see if its 
fragance does not fully equal any flower in your 
sea country.” 

This the Mermaid did without delay, and, 
presto ! how she sneezed ; and joy ! and rap- 
ture ! how the tears rolled down her face as the 
fumes of the onion did their work. 

“The Maiden sleeps 
Till the Mermaid weeps ! ” 

cried the King in great excitement, and ran as 
fast as his legs could carry him to the inner 
court of the coral Palace, followed by the dis- 
gusted Mermaid, who swam slowdy in her most 
dignified manner behind him. 

Here was the golden chest ; and just as he had 
hoped, the spell that bound it to its ocean bed 
was loosened, and the King had no difficulty in 
raising it in his strong young arms. 

[ 233 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Then he had the manners to apologize to the 
Mermaid, who, being a very good-natured if a 
somewhat shallow person, soon forgave him ; 
and bearing his precious burden, he took at 
once the shortest road for home. 

We must now go back for a brief space to 
Florizelle’s royal parents, who had of course 
watched with the greatest interest the pictures 
graven on the chest of gold, which told of their 
daughter’s doings. 

The old King was a monarch of violent tem- 
per, and it took all the Queen’s arts to keep him 
from following Florizelle instantly and execut- 
ing everybody right and left who had in any 
way molested her. But his wife kept warning 
him to beware of meddling with the Fairy of 
the Rosebush, and to trust that the magic shoes 
would soon lead the Princess into happier ways ; 
and she managed to keep him fairly quiet until 
the awful day which disclosed the Fairy’s anger, 
their daughter’s punishment, and the loss of the 
golden casket. 

Then the wrath of the King knew no bounds, 
and his anger was all directed against Flori- 
[ 234 ] 


FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 


zelle’s suitor: “that addle-pated boy,” as the 
old Monarch put it, who had thrown the shoes 
into the fire and so brought all this trouble 
upon his beloved child. “ But I ’ll fix him,” 
roared the King; and he ordered his army to 
the front on the instant, and marched off to 
fight against Florizelle’s lover. 

Now when the Prime Minister, whom the 
young King had left as Kegent, heard that the 
Princess’s father was coming to bear her away, 
he was in a great state of mind, between his 
desire to obey his master and his fear of the 
approaching enemy. At last, however, the fear 
of the enemy conquered, since this was a very 
present evil, and his master, for all he knew, 
many miles distant. He accordingly ordered 
everybody to surrender, and with his own hands 
pulled down the banner that hung from the 
Palace flag-staff, and the young Kings regi- 
ments therefore peacefully stacked their arms 
wherever they chanced to be.* 

The invading Monarch’s anger was somewhat 
lessened by this complete submission, so he told 
his army to stand at attention while their of- 
[ 235 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


fleers took possession of the Palace and went 
to dinner, while he himself sought at once his 
daughter’s chamber to prepare her for the news 
of her departure for home. 

Things were therefore just at this point when 
Florizelle’s lover appeared in the streets of 
his capital, with the golden chest safe and 
sound, and you can imagine his indignation 
at seeing his disarmed soldiers and an enemy’s 
flag proudly waving over his own Palace. 

He at once bade his army take up their weap- 
ons, and as there were no officers of the enemy 
present to countermand this order, it was obeyed 
at once. Then in a loud voice the young King 
commanded the foe to surrender, and as none of 
the common soldiers liked to question this new 
authority, that too was done. Then putting 
himself at the head of one half of his troops 
and leaving the rest to guard the prisoners, 
the young King rode straight to the Palace, 
which was re-taken without bloodshed, all be- 
fore Florizelle’s father had left his daughter’s 
chamber. 

Without wasting words, the victor now sought 
[ 236 ] 


FLORIZELLE AND CHEST OF GOLD 

this self-same apartment, and producing the 
magic slippers from the golden chest, had them 
on Florizelle’s little feet in a jiffy, and before 
her astonished parent could so much as ques- 
tion the proceeding. 

Of course, after that it was all plain sail- 
ing. Florizelle and her lover and Florizelle’s 
father and mother were now quite too happy 
to quarrel with one another, and the two armies 
marched out side by side with equal honors of 
war. 

The wedding day was set at once, and Flori- 
zelle and the young King were married with 
the greatest magnificence. The Fairy of the 
Rosebush gave the bride away and beamed 
upon the loving pair, and when she was leav- 
ing she whispered in the bride’s ear that Flori- 
zelle’s troubles were all behind her, and that, 
as had been promised, the magic shoes should 
only lead in the future through flower-strewn 
ways where thorns were all unknown. 


[ 237 ] 



IX 

THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 

I N a little village far from any great city 
and nearly surrounded by woodland there 
dwelt, once upon a time, a poor tailor. 
He had hard work to keep body and soul 
together, and often went supperless to bed and 
fireless in winter, for food and fuel were both 
costly, and as for the latter, though the forest 
was so near, no one dared break off so much as 
[ 238 ] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 


a single twig, since it was all King’s property 
and not for the use of common folk. 

It was lucky indeed that Karl was a good 
tailor, for he had often to invent new stitches to 
keep his threadbare clothes together, and as for 
his coat, that had been turned so many times 
and had faded so many different shades that it 
would be hard to say whether the original color 
had been snuff-brown, bottle-green, or navy- 
blue. 

But some people you know are never too 
poor to do a kind turn for a neighbor, and Karl 
was one of these people, so that he was well 
liked in the village, and what trade there was 
always came to his door. 

One fine morning the Burgomaster, who was 
the rich man of the place, thought that he must 
have a new cloak, since the old one was getting 
rather shabby. So he came to Karl, and gave 
the order, and was very fussy and important 
about it : only the finest crimson cloth and the 
best gray squirrel fur trimming were to be used, 
and this he said several times over. But when the 
little tailor humbly asked for a golden ducat to 
[ 239 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


buy these fine materials, the Burgomaster grew as 
red as a turkey-cock, and he was so offended at 
the very idea of payment in advance that, fearing 
to lose this grand customer’s trade, Karl hurriedly 
promised to make the cloak first and get the 
money afterward. When the Burgomaster had 
strutted away, poor Karl looked all about his poor 
cottage in despair. It would never do to offend 
so high and mighty a personage, but, on the 
other hand, where was the golden ducat coming 
from with which to supply these costly articles ? 

There was really nothing to sell : a wooden 
workbench, a bed of straw, a single saucepan, a 
cracked plate, and an iron knife and fork, — these 
were his furniture, and if he wanted to sell them 
ever so much it would be hard indeed to find a 
purchaser. 

The only thing that Karl really could dispose 
of was his own labor, and as a last resort he de- 
termined to go into the forest and seek the spot 
near a single, giant, blasted oak, where some 
people said the Dwarf Quicksilver was some- 
times to be seen stitching busily on the clothes 
of the Queen of the Fairies. 

[ 240 ] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 


“He’s a master tailor, no doubt, from his 
name/’ thought poor Karl, u and he ’ll ma) 7 be 
have little use for me, for though I do my best 
I’m but a slow worker. Still it’s my only 
chance, and for a golden ducat I’ll serve him 
faithfully for a month’s time from midnight to 
cock-crow, if he’ll but trust me and give me 
the money.” 

The poor man was really at his wits’ end or 
he would never have dreamed of such a daring 
proposal. In fact, he was very much afraid of 
the underworld people, and knew well how un- 
certain they were in their dealings with mortals. 
Even in the village there had been two cases 
already, for had not Fat Peter come home with 
his best Sunday boots snipped into a thousand 
pieces by the Dwarf’s mischievous scissors, and 
all because he had walked too heavily over their 
playground; and, on the other hand, had not 
pretty Margot found her shoes filled with gold 
coins, when she had done nothing but pull one 
of the fairy folk out of a bog where she had 
seen him one day on her way home? 

But the Burgomaster’s order was urgent and 
16 [ 241 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


would admit of no delay ; so Karl mustered 
all liis courage, dusted off his clothes, and shut- 
ting the cottage door behind him, set forth on 
his errand. The season was winter and the hour 
late, so that the silvery moonlight played on the 
snow-laden branches of the trees, and the little 
tailor hugged himself close to keep out the cold, 
while the frost nipped his nose and his toes 
and pinched- his ears smartly. 

At last he reached the cleared space about the 
blasted oak, and there, sure enough, he beheld the 
famous Quicksilver, working away for dear life 
and heeding the cold not at all. Karl’s knees 
knocked together at the sight, and his tongue 
stuck to the roof of his mouth, as he dodged 
behind the oak-tree in a great state of fright, for 
all his former resolutions to face the thing like 
a man. 

Perhaps he would have stayed there trembling 
till morning or till frozen to death by the bitter 
cold — I really can’t tell what might have hap- 
pened, had not the Dwarf stopped to wax his 
thread, and then called out in a shrill but not un- 
kindly voice : “ Come out ! Come out, my good 
[ 242 ] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 


lad ! I know your errand and I ’ll agree to pay 
you beforehand. Only not in money. Will you 
work for a month for a yardstick ? ” 

Now of course any sensible person would 
never have agreed to this proposal for an in- 
stant, but Karl was so cold and so frightened 
that he was willing to do anything to escape, 
and he accordingly promised to serve the Dwarf 
from midnight to cock-crow for thirty days and 
all for not so much as a single penny. 

Quicksilver bade him come to work the follow- 
ing night, and gave him his own yardstick, say- 
ing, as he did so, with a merry twinkle in his 
eye, “ Measure your cloak when you get home, 
my friend, and take care that you hold the stick 
in your left hand when you do so ; ’’ and Karl 
took to his heels, tired and disappointed, but glad 
‘ to be gone at any price. 

When he reached his humble cottage, he threw 
the yardstick into the corner, thinking bitterly 
what a fool he had been to make such a silly 
bargain, which he was honest enough to intend 
to fulfil, since he was, in spite of his fears and 
failings, a man of his word. 

[ 243 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


When morning dawned, he arose from his bed 
of straw, ate his frugal breakfast, and set his 
house in order, and then because he had no 
work on hand to do he got the yardstick from 
its corner, and, half remembering the Dwarf s 
words, began to measure his own cloak. As it 
chanced, he held the stick in his left hand as he 
did so, and he nearly fell over backward with 
amazement and delight, when beneath his very 
eyes the old, worn-out, patched, and faded 
garment turned under the measure into the 
finest cloak of crimson cloth, richly trimmed 
with squirrel’s fur and fit for any Burgomaster 
in the land. 

Karl’s joy and gratitude can better be imagined 
than described, and it was with a light heart that 
he sought the blasted oak, and with the greatest 
faithfulness that he cut and stitched and pressed, 
all under the shrewd management of the favor- 
ite tailor of the Queen of the Fairies. Of course 
it was quite impossible for any one to work for 
such a master without learning something, and at 
the month’s end Karl was as fine a tailor as one 
would wish to see. 


[ 244 ] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 


Meanwhile the Burgomaster came for his 
crimson cloak, and his delight was so great that 
he found almost no fault at all with the tailor, 
and gave him a whole penny over and above 
the amount of his bill. 

Business became quite brisk after this. The 
Widow Grimm had Wilhelm’s school coat turned, 
and as Karl did not fail to use the magic yard- 
stick in this case also, she told all the neighbors 
far and near that the garment looked just like 
new, and one could not see, even with horn spec- 
tacles, the old patch on the sleeve, or the place 
on the skirt wdiere the pig had chewed it. Other 
people brought their old clothes to be refurbished, 
and went away with the same story, and at last 
Karl’s fame spread beyond the village and 
reached the ears of the King himself. 

One fine day, therefore, a running footman 
in gorgeous green and yellow livery, embroidered 
with the royal arms, appeared at the humble 
tailor’s door, and the village folk gathered close 
at his heels heard the amazing summons. Karl 
was to go to Court to cut out the coronation 
robes of the new Queen ! The little tailor 
[ 245 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


liiinself was quite overpowered at the news, and 
wished greatly that this disturbing honor had 
fallen elsewhere ; but the haughty messenger 
would admit of no question in the matter, and 
shook his powdered head so vigorously, when 
Karl so much as spoke of delay, that the timid 
little man at once packed up his few belongings, 
and, having given the key of the cottage to 
good Widow Grimm, started off, the magic yard- 
stick clasped tight under his arm. 

When he reached the city, his eyes nearly 
popped out of his head with wonder at the 
astonishing sights and sounds to be met there 
on every side. His magnificent companion 
strode proudly along with his nose in the air, so 
that Karl dared not question him, and it was 
really a relief to reach at last the servants’ 
quarters of the King’s great Palace, there to 
be installed in a comfortable room and find 
himself once more alone. 

When he was called to tea in the Servants’ 
Hall, a very pretty and buxom country lass sat 
by his side, and, taking pity on the stranger, 
talked so agreeably that Karl was not at all 
[ 246 ] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 

lonely, and even mustered up courage to look 
into his companions honest brown eyes and 
thank her for her kindness. 

“ It may soon be the other way about,” she 
said merrily, u for if you please the new Queen, 
you will be a very great person, while I am 
only a scullery maid and likely to stay so. 
I shall soon see if you remember me ! ” 

“I couldn't forget you if I wanted to,” an- 
swered the little tailor, and then he blushed as 
red as fire, for he had never said anything as 
bold as that in his whole life before. 

The next morning Karl was summoned to the 
Queen’s presence, and this was quite the most 
alarming thing that had ever happened to him. 
Her Majesty’s directions were very particular 
indeed, and it was lucky that the Court Stenog- 
rapher took them all down, for the tailor was so 
frightened that the royal orders went out of his 
mind directly. In fact, he kept bowing and 
scraping, hardly knowing what he was doing, 
till the Queen said rather impatiently, “ Do 
stop that man, he makes me quite giddy ; ” 
and shortly after that he was led away, followed 
[ 247 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


by the Chief Porter* who bore on his head the 
precious bale of stuff out of which the corona- 
tion robes were to be made. 

Karl saw the pretty scullery maid scrubbing 
down the Palace steps, and she gave him a 
smile that quite heartened him, so that when he 
reached his room he was able to remember and 
ask for all the needful tools of his trade, — 
scissors, needles, pins, wax, and so on, — for 
everything, in short, but a yardstick, and that, 
as we well know, he had with him. 

Then, when he was again quite alone, he 
opened the bale of goods and spread them out 
before him; and never could he so much as 
have pictured to himself anything half so beau- 
tiful. The velvet for the train was sky-blue, 
with bunches of grapes and leaves worked in a 
border of pure gold all about the edge ; the 
material for the petticoat was rose-pink satin, 
with yards and yards of point lace for trimming ; 
the bodice was to be of rose pink, also, but 
there was an embroidery thickly studded with 
emeralds, pearls, and diamonds to be used upon 
it; Karl’s eyes fairly glistened with delight, 
[ 248 ] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 

for he thought that even a poor workman could 
hardly fail to make something truly magnificent 
with material such as these. 

In his haste to begin, he seized the magic 
yardstick, but, alas ! this time in his right hand, 
all forgetful of the Dwarf’s warning. The 
lovely raiment was in a heap on the table, and 
Karl began to measure the number of yards 
it would take in all for the Queen’s dress. 
Horror ! As he did so, beneath his very eyes 
the beautiful velvet and satin grew dingy and 
gray, and great holes came in the lace, while the 
precious stones turned to pebbles, just as the 
magic yardstick dropped from his hand. 

Almost crazed with grief and dismay, the little 
tailor picked it up, this time in his left hand, as 
Quicksilver had taught him, and with frantic 
haste began to re-measure the royal garments, 
but all in vain ! Once done — done forever ; 
and when Karl saw this, he dropped his head on 
his arm and wept bitterly. 

As he did so, a gentle knock sounded on the 
door, which was at length opened, and the rosy 
face of the scullery maid appeared, for she had 

[ m ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


come to tell tlie tailor that his tea was ready. 
When she saw her new friend’s sorrowful face, 
she felt very much concerned, and begged him 
to tell her what was the matter ; and Karl hav- 
ing done so, her kind words of sympathy were 
so sweet that the little tailor for the moment 
almost forgot his fear and grief, and asked her 
in his turn, if he ever got out of this dreadful 
trouble, would she not be his wife and go home 
with him to the village, which he would never 
on any account leave again? 

At this, Gretchen (for that was the scullery 
maid’s name) said, blushing the while and twist- 
ing the corner of her apron, that two heads were 
better than one, and she would not wait for 
Karl to get out of trouble, but would marry 
him at once and help him all she could in this 
new and terrible state of affairs. Despite the 
little tailor’s rather half-hearted protests, this 
she did, and the affection of her husband more 
than repaid her for the risk she was running. 

That it was a risk, she knew even better than 
he, for the new Queen was not a person to be 
trifled with, and on many accounts it seemed 
[ 250 ] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 


best not to stay and face her anger, but seek 
the aid of the friendly Quicksilver and so set 
about repairing the damage that had been done. 

This was their plan ; but, alas ! like many 
other well-laid schemes, it came to naught, since, 
just as their simple preparations for flight had 
been finished, the Chief Porter appeared with 
his basket on his head, and said that the Queen 
had changed her royal mind and that the coro- 
nation robes were to be sent back to the Palace 
immediately. The tailor was also commanded 
to accompany the Porter ; and seeing that there 
was no help for it, Karl, with his yardstick 
under his arm, went shivering and quaking 
along, with hanging head, while brave Gretchen 
marched sturdily beside him, trying her best 
to keep up his failing spirits with words of 
cheer. 

When at last they reached the Queen’s pres- 
ence, to make matters worse, the King was there 
also, and the sight of these two high-born per- 
sonages was really too much for the tailor, 
whose teeth chattered so with fright that he 
could not utter a single syllable. Seeing this, 
[ 251 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Gretchen stepped forth and told the whole story, 
but when she came to the part where the robes 
were ruined, the Queen shrieked and snatched 
the poor dingy garments from their basket ; 
where in the pitiless sunlight their condition was 
plainly revealed, she at once went into violent 
hysterics. 

Seeing this, the King was beside himself with 
anxiety, and his rage increased to such an extent 
that it was lucky for the newly made husband 
and wife that he could find at the moment but few 
words in which to vent his anger. “ T — t — turn 
them out,” he stammered wrathfully, stamping 
on the ground with his foot as he spoke. “ Let 
them make the damage good in a week’s time 
or their heads shall pay for it;” and seizing the 
magic yardstick with his own hand, he broke it 
in two and flung the pieces at the cowering 
tailor’s head. 

Gretchen picked them up, and taking her hus-' 
band by the elbow, hurried him away from the 
royal presence ; and the pair were jostled and 
pushed along by the waiting grooms without, and 
driven through the streets with jeers and stone- 
[ 252 ] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 


throwing, till at last the gates of the city were 
shut behind them and they were told to look 
sharp, since the eye of the law was upon them, 
and the King’s orders would be carried out to the 
letter. 

When Karl got his breath, he began to moan 
over his misfortune, and “ Only a week,” wailed 
he, “ in which to make matters right.” 

But Gretchen said, “ Seven whole days ! ” 
Who knew what good luck might be theirs? 
And it was a fine bit of fortune that the Queen 
had been taken with hysterics, since had she 
been able to speak her mind, their heads ere 
this would have surely left their shoulders. 
The thing to do now was to reach Quicksilver’s 
haunts as soon as possible. This made Karl 
ashamed of his despair, and he trudged along 
with his wife, and tried to imitate her cheerful- 
ness to the best of his ability. 

They had not been given time to take their 
modest belongings, only the broken yardstick 
remained, and when Karl tried its magic proper- 
ties on his own cloak, he found that with its 
breaking its power had vanished, and it made 
[ 253 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


no difference now in which hand he held it — 
nothing whatsoever happened. 

He was all for throwing the pieces away, but, 
Gretchen objecting, he gave up the idea, and 
they continued their journey homeward, Karl 
earning shelter and food for both by the diligent 
use*of his needle, and Gretchen winning friends 
everywhere by her pleasant face and manner. 

But when at midnight they reached the 
blasted oak and found Quicksilver there plying 
his trade as of yore, they were doomed to dis- 
appointment, for the Dwarfs sharp eyes saw the 
broken yardstick at once, and he chased them 
from his presence, saying angrily that he had 
no time to talk with folk who could not properly 
appreciate and care for magic gifts ; and that the 
Queen of the Fairies herself was to hold her 
Midwinter Revel on that very spot the next 
night, and that he had more than enough to do 
to finish her order without wasting on silly 
mortals the precious moments. 

Karl and Gretchen, therefore, turned sadly 
away to seek their humble cottage; but the good 
wife’s brain was already busy, and the next day 
[ 254 ] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 


she bade her husband sell his tools, and buy a 
rooster with the proceeds. Now this certainly 
seemed a very unwise request, but by this time 
the tailor had learned to believe greatly in 
Gretchen’s cleverness, and he accordingly 
obeyed her to the letter, coming home at 
noonday with a fine cock under his arm, 
“ Though, to be sure, what she wants it for, I 
can’t imagine/’ thought he. “And if it’s for 
soup, a fat pullet would surely be better.” But 
he said nothing of the kind to his wife, and she 
held her peace also, and only telling him to be 
ready at midnight, since their one hope now 
lay with the Queen of the Fairies, whom it 
was her intention to seek. 

Karl didn’t much like these twelve-o’clock 
rambles, and was sorely afraid, as we have seen, 
of all the fairy folk and their doings ; but again 
he decided to follow his wife’s course, since 
their plight could hardly become more wretched 
than it now was. 

A little before midnight, therefore, the pair 
set out, and the tailor saw that Gretchen had 
the rooster along with her, tied up in a singular 
[ 255 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


manner in a bag, so that it could breathe but 
could not see. She also carried the broken 
yardstick. Karl wondered if her many trou- 
bles had made his wife crazy, and he sighed 
heavily, but thought the matter past mending 
by any words of his. 

After a brisk walk through the frosty air, the 
tailor and his wife reached the forest, a lit- 
tle later nearing the clearing where their jour- 
ney was to end. By Gretchen’s advice they 
now concealed themselves in the thick under- 
brush near it, for the hour of the Fairies* Revel 
was at hand. 

Twelve o’clock ! and a mighty scampering of 
tiny feet was followed by a rush of fairy work- 
men, who quick as thought swarmed up the tree- 
trunks and hung thousands of glittering, frosted 
silver lamps from the branches, so that the 
place was soon as bright as day. Some of the 
workmen brought mushroom seats ; while others 
in turn set the banquet table, trimmed it with 
mistletoe and holly, and saw that the acorn cups 
were brimming with elderberry wine. Then a 
throne, cushioned with snow-drop petals, was 
[ 256 ] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 


made ready for the Queen ; and finally the 
Court fairies entered, with their Sovereign in 
their midst in a sleigh drawn by eight spirited 
white mice. The Fairy Queen was dressed in 
ivory satin, trimmed with swansdown, w r ith a 
mantle and muff of ermine. On her head was 
a crown of diamond stars, and her wand was 
tipped with another glowing, pure white brilliant. 

When she was seated on her throne, a Herald 
appeared and, blowing three blasts on a tiny 
trumpet, proclaimed in a loud voice : “ Oyez ! 
Oyez ! Know all ye fairies in Court assembled ! 
The most puissant and high-born Lady, Mab, 
Queen of Fairy-land, holds Winter Revel from 
midnight to cock-crow.” And the frolic at once 
began. Such snowballing, such daring sway- 
ing from icy branch to branch, such ripples of 
elfin laughter, such light-footed dancing! 

In the very midst of it all Gretchen, with the 
rooster concealed beneath her apron, stepped 
forth, and instantly all this mirth and merry-mak- 
ing ceased, while the Queen looked in anger upon 
this rash mortal. But Gretchen, who had by this 
time pulled the trembling Karl from his hiding- 
17 [ 257 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


place, gave her Majesty no time to speak, but in 
a modest voice explained her errand. It was, 
said she, her earnest wish to please the Fairy 
Queen, and she and her husband, if so her 
Royal Highness willed, would teach both Court 
and Sovereign some novelties in games and 
sports. 

The fairies at these words at once crowded 
close, and even the Queen leaned down from 
her throne and bade Gretchen speak further 
of this matter. So the good wife told the 
listening little folk about Puss-in-the-corner. 
Folio w-my-leader, Stage-coach, and various 
other fine old-fashioned games, and soon the 
fun was fast and furious; even her Majesty 
tucking up her train and joining in the mad 
revel. At last Gretchen suggested “ Blind- 
man’s-buff, with Karl for the centre of the 
ring ; and since blindfolded he might, without 
knowing it, trample on some of the fairy folk 
the Queen waved her wand thrice, and imme- 
diately she and all her subjects grew to the 
size of ordinary men and women. 

Gretchen had told her husband to try and 
[ 258 ] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 


catch the Fairy Queen, if possible, and tied the 
kerchief about his eyes in such a way that he 
could see the feet of those playing the game. 
Now her Majesty had some very handsome 
diamond rosettes upon her slippers, and it was 
therefore easy for the tailor to single her out 
from the rest of the company. 

“In this game,” said Gretchen, “we shall 
have forfeits, and those that are caught will 
have to give up something of value which be- 
longs to them and can only regain it by doing 
exactly as the blindman tells them.” 

“ Very well,” said the Queen. “We shall be 
glad to see a clumsy-footed mortal catch even 
one of our number. But before we commence, 
remember you and your husband are in our 
power, and even should a fairy be forced to pay 
a forfeit, you must not ask for protection from 
midnight to cock-crow. Uninvited you have 
forced yourselves upon us in this our Midwinter 
Revel, and we have not punished your rashness 
as yet, only because it has so pleased us. And 
now, Sir Tailor — to the game ! ” 

So saying, the Queen gave poor Karl a push 
[ 259 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 

that sent him spinning, and this was the signal 
for all the other fairies to begin their elfish 
pranks. And though they tweaked his hair 
and nipped his legs with their nimble fingers 
and turned him this way and that, in the end it 
was all for the best, since otherwise he never 
would have been able to lay a finger on so 
much as one of the light-footed fairy folk. 

Karl patiently bided his time, and as Mab 
and her following slipped again and again 
through and under his outstretched arms, they 
became ever bolder and bolder, till all at once 
the tailor spied his chance, and as the diamond 
rosetted slippers went twinkling by, he gave a 
sudden leap and had the Fairy Queen clasped 
tight and fast in an instant. 

Gretchen had told him the part he was to 
play ; so in a loud voice he called out at once 
that it was her Majesty who had been fairly 
caught, and then he had the royal crown from 
her head in a flash. “ A forfeit, a very fine for- 
feit. What must the owner do to redeem it ? ” 
he asked. 

“ She must grant us three wishes,” replied 
[ 260 ] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 


Gretchen promptly, at the same time deftly 
undoing the knot in the handkerchief that held 
the tailor blindfold. 

Now the Fairy Queen was by this time very 
angry : first, that she had been the one to be 
caught ; and second, that a mere mortal should 
have dared to lay so much as a finger on the 
royal crown, something that had never hap- 
pened before, so she said coldly : “ Three 

wishes and no more will I grant, but, look you, 
the Midwinter Revel has still many hours to 
run and you are my prisoners.” 

Something in her voice made Karl tremble, 
and he looked to his wife, who, since she had 
got them into this trouble, must try to find a 
way out again. “ Tell her what you wish/’ he 
said. 

“ First, then, may it please your Majesty,” 
said Gretchen, keeping close the while in the 
friendly shadow of the trees, “ first, will you 
command Quicksilver to mend the yardstick he 
gave my husband, so that its magic properties 
may be restored ? ” 

“ Granted,” answered the Queen. “ Come 
[261 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


hither, Quicksilver, and mend the creature’s 
yardstick.” 

With a very poor grace the Dwarf obeyed, 
and joining the pieces together, ran his hand 
along the broken edges, and on the instant the 
thing was done and the yardstick as good as 
new. 

“ What further ? ” asked the Queen. 

“ That your Majesty would deign to give my 
husband the means of restoring the Queen’s 
coronation robes to even more than their first 
beauty,” replied Gretclien. 

“ Done,” answered the Fairy Queen; and she 
pulled a single hair from her head and gave it 
to the wondering Karl, who twined it about his 
finger for safe keeping. “ Burn this hair in the 
flame of a lighted taper held above the robes 
and your wish is accomplished. And now for 
your third request. Speak, and quickly, since 
time and patience alike wax short.” 

“ This then, great Queen,” said Gretchen, 
“ that you and your subjects will not molest us 
after cock-crow.” 

“Ah!” replied Mab, with scorn in eye and 
[ 262 ] 







■ 







■ 












THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 


tone, “you think yourself very clever, do you 
not ? And as you ask, so shall it be done ; but 
neither do you go scot-free, since you and your 
fine tailor husband are still in my power. Come, 
fairies, come and pinch them black and blue and 
beat them soundly, the pair of them, with their 
own magic yardstick.” 

At these words the whole elfin number sprang 
forward, and things looked dark, as you may 
imagine, for the poor tailor and his wife ; but 
while the Queen had been speaking, wise 
Gretchen had loosed the rooster from the bag, 
and, seeing so many lights, the bird thought of 
course that night was over, and just as the fairy 
folk rushed to the attack, “ Cock-a-doodle-doo-o,” 
rang clear through the forest. 

In an instant darkness fell, every fairy van- 
ished, and the space about the blasted oak 
was deserted ; while Karl and Gretchen, with 
cock and yardstick, took to their heels, and soon 
reached, breathless and panting but safe, their 
own cottage door. 

The next morning early, the tailor and his 
wife set forth on their journey to the capital, 
[ 263 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


and reached there just in time, since the week 
of grace was over. The Chief of Police was 
ready and waiting, and grimly bade them come 
with him to their Majesties’ presence, and they 
found the Lord High Executioner there before 
them, tenderly feeling the edge of his axe, and 
looking in their direction much oftener than was 
pleasant. The King was gruff, and the Queen’s 
eyes were still red with weeping ; the coro- 
nation robes were brought in and laid, an 
unsightly mass of soiled and dingy stuff, before 
the throne, — the pebbles which had once been 
precious stones upon the top. 

Then Karl in a small thin voice requested the 
use of a lighted taper, and the King ordered it 
brought in, but added sternly : “ Look you, my 
man, no foolish mummery,” and glared at the 
trembling tailor so fiercely that I think his legs 
would have given out completely, had not sturdy 
Gretchen supported him with her arm and 
whispered u Courage ” into his ear as she did so. 

Then before Court and Sovereign a marvellous 
thing happened. As the hair from the head of 
the Fairy Queen burned in the flame, the color 

[«M] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 


and sheen came back to the royal raiment, the 
gold thread of the embroideries glistened, the 
lace became whole and new, and a glittering 
heap of dazzling jewels reposed in the place 
where the pebbles had been a moment before. 
Indeed, before the hair was quite consumed, the 
gems shone with such lustre that the Queen had 
to shade her eyes with her fan ; while the satin 
took on the texture and finish of a pink rose-leaf, 
and the lace became fine as a cobweb, while 
the blue velvet train seemed cut from a piece of 
the very sky itself. 

For a moment after there was silence, and then 
his Majesty’s hearty 61 Well done, my man ! well 
done ! ” broke the stillness, while the weathercock 
courtiers crowded about Karl and his wife with 
words of praise, and the Lord High Executioner 
put his axe over his shoulder and slunk out 
a back way. 

The King, in fact, was so delighted that he 
wanted Karl to accept again the post of Court 
Tailor; but our hero had had quite enough of 
high life and besought only permission to depart. 
This seemed to please the Queen, who was really 
[ 265 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


too glad to get her coronation robes back 
safely, to wish to risk them further with one 
whose magic had been so uncertain ; and 
accordingly Karl and Gretclien were dismissed 
from the royal presence, but not before a fat 
purse of gold pieces had been thrust into the 
little tailors hand. 

Their going this time was quite a different 
matter from that of the week before. “Way 
for the King’s tailor! Way for the Queen’s 
favorite ! ” called the lackeys, and even the 
policemen touched their helmets with their 
billies, as they kept back the admiring crowd. 

But neither Karl nor Gretchen was used to 
such state, and they were really glad when once 
again the gates of the city shut behind them 
and they were facing homeward for the last 
time. When they reached the village, their 
fame they found had travelled faster, and the 
neighbors greeted them with open arms. 

Karl at once, by Gretchen’ s advice, put the 
King’s money into a fine new cottage, with pig- 
sty and garden all complete, and when it was 
finished it had three whole rooms and an attic, 
[ 266 ] 


THE MAGIC YARDSTICK 


and even the Burgomaster could boast no more. 
Nor could that important person vie with the 
plenishing of the larder, since a dozen hams 
hung from the kitchen rafters ; and no housewife 
in all the country-side had more tumblers of 
jelly to her credit, or better cowslip wine. 

Here, therefore, after all their troubles did 
Karl and Gretchen live in peace and plenty. 
In years to come the happy voices of children 
rang through house and garden, and sturdy 
lads and merry-faced girls rode a-cock-horse on 
the magic yardstick. 

In fact, this useful article made Karl a tailor 
beyond compare and the pride of all the village, 
while by its help the porridge bowl had never 
need to go empty, and the stocking under the 
hearthstone grew fat to bursting with the silver 
pieces it contained. 


[ 267 ] 



X 

CHILDREN OF THE SUN 

S OL and Soltus were the Sun King’s only 
children, and they looked as much alike 
as two peas in a pod. As a matter 
of fact, they were twins, and fine handsome 
lads they were, with clear blue eyes and curl- 
ing red hair, that stood out from their heads 
like a halo of flame, and had thus the real royal 
color and appearance. 

[ 268 ] 


CHILDREN OF THE SUN 


They were happy boys, too, in the main, 
though their father, the Sun, had a hot temper, 
and was often either blazing with wrath or else 
sulking in gray and gloomy solitude. When 
the first happened, the Earth People wiped their 
foreheads and said it was “ such a hot day/' 
and when the last state of things was in progress, 
they said, “ Dear me! what dull weather we he 
having! I do wish the Sun would come out 
from behind the clouds.’’ 

In spite of all these faults, however, the King 
loved his children dearly and gave them almost 
everything they wanted, except permission to 
visit the Earth, which happened to be the wish 
most near to their hearts. 

The reason they desired this so much was 
because of the wonderful tales told them of the 
planet in question by Luna, their grandmother, 
whose other name was the Moon Queen. Sol 
and Soltus used to go to see her sometimes, and 
what jolly visits they were, though I fear their 
noble father would not always have approved 
of their proceedings. 

To begin with, as the Moon Country was 
[ 269 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


altogether different from the Sun Kingdom, the 
twins had first to don white suits of fur, which 
covered them from top to toe, and showed 
only their blue eyes and the tips of their royal 
noses. This was to keep out the cold, which, 
protected in this way, they did not mind a bit. 
Then Luna, their grandmother, was very in- 
dulgent and had her subjects make fine long 
coasts for her young visitors. You may some- 
times hear silly Earth People talking about the 
craters in the Moon. What they think craters 
are really the fine snow-slides especially con- 
structed for the princely amusement of Sol and 
Soltus, and which remain even to this day. 

In the evenings the old Queen used to call 
her grandchildren to her knee and tell them 
wonderful stories about the Earth and the People 
who lived upon it. The Moon Kingdom was 
the nearest of any of the heavenly bodies to 
this planet, and so Luna knew a great deal about 
it, and had much to say of her importance there. 

“ Why, without me,” said she, “ they have to 
use tiny lights as small as pin heads to see at all 
at night ; and if I did n’t attend to it, I don’t 
[ 270 ] 


CHILDREN OF THE SUN 

know how they would ever manage the tides, 
for I make their great oceans flow high or low 
at my bidding. Beside that there is a special 
race of men, called Poets, who write very 
pleasingly about me, and to whom I am most 
necessary; and I am a great favorite, beside, 
with young men and young maidens. Your 
father, my dears, is a very worthy person, but 
he never could bring about the love matches 
that I have done;” and the Queen leaned back 
on her silver throne with a very proud expression 
of satisfaction on her face. 

Sol and Soltus did n’t care much about this 
part of their royal grandmother’s story, but they 
were polite, well-brought-up lads, and they 
therefore listened respectfully in silence, and 
were usually rewarded at last by Earth tales 
that were really interesting: about the queer 
color of the trees and grass, — green, if you will 
believe it, instead of yellow, — and the strange 
four-footed beasts that roamed about the land. 
The thing called water, too, was very different 
from the streams of molten gold that flowed 
through the Sun Country, though the Earth 
[271 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


People did have frozen lumps of something that 
looked like this same gold, and prized it to 
a truly ridiculous extent, toiling for days and 
digging deep in the hard ground for even the 
tiniest fragments. 

The more they heard of this strange country, 
the more Sol and Soltus were determined to see 
it for themselves ; but there was only one person 
beside their father and grandmother who knew 
the way to get there, and this was the Great 
Bear, a remarkably crusty old person, who 
spent most of his time sprawling about in the 
Heavens and who bothered his head very little 
indeed about either earth or sky people. 

One day, however, their chance came to get 
at the secret, and this is the way it happened. 
A Comet Messenger darted into the Sun’s 
presence, with his long court train flowing 
behind him, and with sparkling eyes though 
humble mien told his royal Master that the 
Great Bear had somehow, with one of his clumsy 
twists and turns, knocked over the Big Dipper, 
and that everything in that part of the Heavens 
was helter-skelter in consequence. 

[ m ] 


CHILDREN OF THE SUN 


This made the Sun King very angry, and he 
commanded that the trouble should be remedied 
at once, or the Lord Executioner would take the 
sword of Orion, so rarely used that it had not 
for years left the peg on which it hung, and 
chop off the Great Bear’s head. 

Now Sol and Soltus felt very sorry when they 
heard this terrible sentence, for they knew full 
well that the Great Bear, in spite of his gigantic 
strength, would never be able with his clumsy 
paws to undo the mischief ; so they determined 
to help him, and flew about with such right 
good-will that they soon had a numerous follow- 
ing, and by good luck and hard work had the 
Big Dipper in place again, with the loss of but 
a few unimportant falling stars. 

The Great Bear was very grateful, as you 
may imagine, and when Sol and Soltus asked 
him to tell them how to get to the Earth planet, 
he did so at once, for he was rather a stupid 
fellow and could not imagine that the Sun’s 
children could come to any harm in any place 
where they should choose to go. 

“ You must wait for your royal father,” he 
is [ 273 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


said, “ and some day when he is feeling particu- 
larly good-natured, just after a rain storm, he ’ll 
throw a bridge from his Palace to the Earth be- 
low : down there they call it a rainbow ; and 
you can both slide down it if you are quick and 
do so before it melts away.” 

“ Thank you, thank you,” cried the twins, 
heartily; and from that day they hung about 
the royal residence in a manner quite unusual 
before, and tried their best to keep their royal 
parent in a good humor. 

At last, much to their joy, the wished-for 
moment came, and without waiting an instant 
the pair climbed up on the bridge, and shutting 
their eyes, let themselves go, sliding at once 
with terrific rapidity Earthward (just as you, 
boys, slide — only more slowly — down the front- 
stair banister). Bang! bump! bump! and the 
twins opened their eyes. 

It was really true. About them was a wide 
stretch of soft green lawn, ornamented by gor- 
geous flower-beds, relieved by tinkling fountains 
and palm and cocoanut trees. You see the 
twins had fallen upon a kingdom in the tropics ; 

[ 274 ] 


CHILDREN OF THE SUN 


but that did not trouble them, since the heat 
in their father’s dominions was so very much 
greater. 

In the distance appeared a beautiful Palace, 
with graceful, rounded towers and arches, and 
as they looked, the great middle door swung 
open and a noble cavalcade came forth. The 
person of chief importance in this procession 
was dressed in bright orange, and this being 
the royal color in the Sun Kingdom, pleased 
Sol and Soltus, who stood watching. Over his 
head was borne a great mushroom-shaped, scar- 
let something, supported by a bamboo stick; 
and Soltus, on questioning a bystander, for a 
crowd had already assembled to watch the im- 
perial progress, was told that this was a parasol. 

“ But what is it for ? ” asked Soltus, and 
when the man, with a look of surprise at such 
ignorance, answered shortly, “ To keep the Sun 
off,” both the twins were filled with amazement. 
If such a simple thing as this could really keep 
their great father away against his will, why, 
this was indeed a marvellous country and the 
lord thereof a mighty Ruler. 

[ 275 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


By this time the Grand Mogul — for so kings 
were called in that part of the world — by this 
time, as I say, the haughty Monarch observed 
the Sun Princes, and his imperial curiosity 
was aroused by the difference in their looks, 
bearing, and costume from those of the men and 
women of his dominions. 

So he called the First Lord-in- Waiting, who 
told the Illustrious Messenger-in-Ordinary, who 
repeated to the Chief Master of Ceremonies, 
who commanded the Principal Usher, who bade 
the High-born Commander of Pages to send the 
lackey of most consequence present, to call Sol 
and Soltus to the imperial presence. 

This was immediately done, and the twins 
were at once handed over, by the lackey of 
most consequence present, to the High-born 
Commander of Pages, to the Principal Usher, 
to the Chief Master of Ceremonies, to the 
Illustrious Messenger-in-Ordinary, to the First 
Lord-in- Waiting, who escorted them to the 
edge of the royal purple carpet which had been 
spread for the Grand Mogul to walk upon ; and 
at a sign from this mighty personage the Most 
[ 276 ] 


CHILDREN OF THE SUN 

Noble Parasol Bearer began to question them as 
to their names, their birthplace, and their future 
movements. 

Sol and Soltus felt that it would be unwise to 
tell all this at once, so they contented themselves 
with explaining that they were twin brothers, 
sons of a King who ruled a mighty country far 
away, and that they hoped before returning to 
see something of the great Kingdom iii which 
they found themselves, and they trusted, further, 
that this would not be displeasing to the most 
noble Ruler of these same dominions. 

At this the Grand Mogul graciously allowed 
a fleeting smile to illuminate his illustrious 
countenance, and the expression was at once 
reflected on the respective faces of the Most 
Noble Parasol Bearer, the First Lord-in- Wait- 
ing, the Illustrious Messenger-in-Ordinary, the 
Chief Master of Ceremonies, the Principal Usher, 
the High-born Commander of Pages, and the 
lackey of the most consequence present, who, 
by the time the smile reached him, was grin- 
ning from ear to ear. 

At the Grand Mogul’s command Sol and 
[ 277 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Soltus joined the imperial train, and a little 
later found themselves in the Palace, where 
a suite of rooms in accordance with their rank 
was prepared for them. 

Meanwhile the Sun King, their father, had 
discovered their escapade, and his anger was 
so fierce that his rays melted the very icebergs 
about the North Pole ; and when this fit of 
passion subsided, he withdrew himself com- 
pletely in the very middle of the day, so that 
the Earth People went about with lanterns, 
talking of what they called a a total eclipse,” 
while the Sun King continued to sulk and fume 
till the very farthest little star in the Heavens 
shook and twinkled with anxiety and alarm. 

Of course the twins understood what the mat- 
ter was, but they thought that now they had at 
last reached their journey’s end they had better 
stay awhile and see how they liked it ; and per- 
haps their grandmother Luna would be able to 
somewhat calm their father’s anger, for that she 
would take their part they very well knew. 

Indeed that same night a Meteor came in 
through the open window of their apartment, with 
[ 278 ] 


CHILDREN OF THE SUN 


a message from their royal parent, in which he 
bade them sta}- in their chosen abode for the pres- 
ent — the exile to be a punishment for their dis- 
obedience. Later, if they so desired, they might 
return, since one chance and one only w r ould 
then be given them to do so ; and this favor 
was due solely, as they had best understand, to 
the pleading of their Moon Queen grandmother. 

Several pleasant weeks were spent by the 
Sun’s children at the Court of the Grand Mogul ; 
but one day they came to grief and were ban- 
ished from that monarch’s presence, and I will 
tell you how it happened. 

You see, in front of the Palace there was 
built a marble terrace, ornamented with pots of 
palms and orange-trees, and made beautiful by 
birds of every hue, — not to mention monkeys, 
who, to please the royal fancy, were painted 
in the most brilliant colorings, some blue with 
pink tails, some spotted like leopards, and others 
striped like the tigers of the jungle. 

These were, of course, very fine indeed, but 
they were not half so magnificent as the Grand 
Mogul’s chief favorite, — a peacock whose jew- 
[ 279 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


elled train was equalled only by his master 
when in full Court dress. This, alas ! was not 
the only resemblance between the two, for if the 
peacock strutted about in the most ridiculous 
fashion, so did the Grand Mogul, and it would be 
hard to choose which looked the more foolish. 

It chanced, therefore, one morning that the 
Eastern monarch was walking upon the terrace, 
just as the peacock alighted on the marble 
pavement behind him, and the Grand Mogul’s 
airs and graces were so faithfully copied by the 
bird at his heels that Sol and Soltus, who hap- 
pened to be watching at a little distance, burst 
out laughing before they knew it. 

Now to sneeze or to cough in the Emperor’s 
presence was bad enough, but to laugh ! — why, 
the whole royal suite from the Most Noble 
Parasol Bearer to the lackey of the least conse- 
quence present turned pale with horror at the 
sound. The Grand Mogul, on the contrary, 
grew very red in the face, and it was lucky in- 
deed that he was too angry to ask for an expla- 
nation, since that would certainly have made 
for the twins a bad matter worse. 

[ 280 ] 


CHILDREN OF THE SUN 


As it was, a majestic wave of the Emperor’s 
hand conveyed their sentence, and they were 
hustled from the imperial presence with little 
ceremony and bundled out of the Palace, with 
grim instructions nevermore to dare to show so 
much as the tip of their noses within the royal 
dominions. 

Sol and Soltus, therefore, set forth once again 
upon their adventures, and found the world a 
very different place, as you may well believe. 
Nobody had so much as a kind word for the' 
disgraced favorites, and since ill news travels 
fast, the twins decided at length to quit the 
more frequented highways and go forth into 
the jungle. 

Of their many adventures there I have not 
time to tell you. I will only say that the 
animals, wiser than men, respected their royal 
origin and that no harm befell them, though 
they supped with tigers, rode upon wild ele- 
phants, played with great apes, and slept with 
lions; drinking from still pools of water when 
they could ; eating fruit, nuts, and berries ; and 
feasting indeed on cocoanut milk when their 
[ 281 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


way led thither. Their garments, of course, 
were soon torn and their feet often weary, but 
they did not regret the Court life they had left, 
neither did they mourn for their own land and 
the Palace of the Sun Father. 

At last, one morning, they stepped, without 
knowing it, over the border line that separated 
the jungle from the Magic Country, a place to 
which few travellers have ever journeyed. The 
first thing that met their eyes was a party of 
queer little Brown People, dancing about a 
great fire and trying, with but small success, to 
pull from the blaze some strange-looking flap- 
jacks which hissed upon a big iron griddle, sus- 
pended in a mysterious way in the centre of 
the flames. 

To Sol and Soltus fire was ever friendly, and 
they earned the warmest thanks of the Brown 
People by pulling out the flap-jacks one by one 
and distributing them among their new friends. 
The small Brown People crammed their mouths 
full in a way I would advise no child to imitate, 
and rolled their eyes, and rubbed their stomachs 
in a manner that left no doubt of their feelings 
[ 282 ] 


CHILDREN OF THE SUN 


about flap-jacks in general and these in particu- 
lar. The twins thought the Brown People 
would never have enough, and the supply in the 
iron griddle seemed ever, in some magical fash- 
ion, renewed; but at last they stopped their 
cramming and dancing, and one by one sat 
down, till at length all were arranged in a grave 
circle about the twins and the fire. 

Sol and Soltus looked at the Brown People, 
and the Brown People looked at them ; and 
finally the very smallest and most shrivelled of 
the fairy folk arose and solemnly presented each 
of the royal pair with a hazel nut, on which 
was written in tiny letters “Crack me!” He 
then clapped his little hands together, and the 
whole party instantly disappeared. 

Sol rubbed his eyes, and Soltus felt quite 
dizzy at this sudden happening; but the fairy 
gift at least remained, and the brothers lost no 
time in obeying the directions inscribed upon 
it. I do not know what the twins expected, 
but there was really quite a comical look of dis- 
appointment on their faces, as only a slip of 
paper appeared when they broke the nuts. 

[ 283 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


Sol read the writing on his aloud : — 

“ One doth spin, another doth churn ; 

To help the first you must quickly learn. 

This having done, turn to the Sun ; 

Do as he bids and your luck J s begun . 1 1 

Soltus, as much amazed as his brother at this 
rigmarole, opened his paper and followed Sol’s 
example. 

“ One doth churn, another doth spin ; 

Help the first and your luck willbegin. 

Old Mother Holle, so wise is she, 

Will know in the doing whose sons you be.” 

“Well,” said the twins in one breath, “did 
you ever hear such nonsense ? ” and then they 
both laughed till the woods rang with their 
merriment. 

But they were to be still more astonished, as 
you will soon learn, for on coming to an opening 
in the wood, what did they see but a pretty moss- 
roofed cottage, and in front of the open door 
two beautiful damsels, one churning and one 
spinning, and both weeping as if their hearts 
would break. Sol and Soltus could not remain 
concealed after this, but sprang forward and 
[ 284 ] 


CHILDREN OF THE SUN 


besought the maidens to tell them the cause of 
their trouble. 

u I am Friga,” said the first, who sat beside 
her churn, “ and that is my sister Frida, whom 
you see there by her wheel. We have been 
brought up since we were babies by Mother Holle, 
who makes it snow and attends to the weather. 
She is very old and wise, and she has been kind, 
though strict; that is, until to-day — ” 

“ When,” broke in Frida, “ she gave me these 
cobwebs to spin into silk, and my sister therer, 
water to churn into butter.” 

“ How very ridiculous ! ” said Soltus, hotly ; 
while Sol stood entranced, gazing at the sisters, 
who were as nearly alike in looks as it was 
possible to be, so that none could say which was 
the more beautiful. 

The sunbeams had been caught in the meshes 
of their hair, and their eyes were deeply blue and 
shone like stars. Their voices were low and sweet, 
and one felt on beholding their loveliness that 
they were quite as good as they were beautiful. 

Then the twins remembered the words of the 
they had just read, and wished with all 
[ 285 ] 


verses 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


their might that they could indeed help these 
fair maidens in their trouble. 

“ Mother Holle has given us till to-night to do 
her bidding,’’ said Friga, “and when she returns, 
if our tasks are not completed, she will send us 
away to the Desert Fairy, who is so ugly that it 
makes one shudder to look at her, and there 
we must stay as her servants.” 

“ Never shall such a thing happen,” cried Sol, 
stoutly ; and Soltus said the same, though neither 
of them had the least idea how to prevent it. 

At last Sol spoke to poor Frida, whose cobweb 
thread broke constantly as she turned her wheel, 
and he said, “ Let me try my hand at the task,” 
for all at once he had remembered a spinning 
song that his grandmother, the Moon Queen, had 
used to croon softly to herself, and something 
told him that there was magic in the words. 

In spite of her trouble, Frida could not help 
laughing at the awkward way in which the youth 
took the thread between his fingers and began 
to turn the wheel, but her eyes grew big with 
wonder, when, as a strange, low, humming chant 
broke the stillness, the cobweb threads grew 
[ 286 ] 


CHILDREN OF THE SUN 


firm, then silky and shining with the soft radi- 
ance of moonbeams, and as Sol, much excited, 
spun faster and faster, a web of silver tissue, 
silken soft, appeared before their delighted gaze 
and grew rapidly beneath it till the last cob- 
web was finished. 

“How can I ever thank you?” said the maiden, 
gratefully, “but how much I wish poor Friga’s 
task was as well over.” 

“ It shall be,” cried Soltus, who had been 
thinking hard to some purpose. “ Since my 
brother can spin so well, let me see what I can 
do at the churn ; but first I must drop into the 
water these bits of gold — all that is left from 
the embroidery that my brother and I brought 
with us on our garments when we came from 
the Sun country. It is different from the Earth 
metal, and something tells me it will help us.” 

So saying, he began to churn as hard as ever 
he could, thump, thump, thumpety, thump. 
It went easy enough at first, but soon to every- 
body's great delight it became harder to move 
the handle, and at last Friga could wait no 
longer, but must lift the cover and peer into 
[ 287 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


the chum itself, and then her cry of joy made 
the good news clear to them all. 

Such butter, such golden butter ! In a twink- 
ling Friga had it out, and with her pretty 
white fingers had moulded it into the shape 
of a big sunflower, which pleased the twins 
immensely, since this was their own royal badge 
and one that they had not seen since leaving 
their father s Palace. 

Just then a new figure appeared in their midst, 
and a silence fell upon all, for the sun was 
setting, and Mother Holle had returned a little 
ahead of time. The twins gazed upon her in 
something akin to fear, for no one can see 
Mother Holle without such heart fluttering. 

What they beheld was a very old, old woman, 
bent nearly double and leaning upon a crutch. 
A long brown cloak fell from her shoulders, 
and upon her head was a cap with white frills. 
Her face was crisscrossed with hundreds of tiny 
wrinkles, but her small black eyes were sharp as 
gimlets and bright as diamonds. 

Without a word Mother Holle hobbled over to 
Frida, and drew the shining silver tissue from 
[ 288 ] 


CHILDREN OF THE SUN 


her unresisting fingers. “Moon’s song, moon’s 
song ! ” muttered she, and turned to the butter 
which Friga still proudly held. “Suns gold, 
sun’s gold!” she said twice over; and then she 
approached the twins, who stood silent. 

“ Children of the Sun,” she continued, “ I have 
foreseen your coming and I read your hearts. 
You, Sol, would have Frida for your Princess, 
and you, Soltus, my other adopted daughter, 
Friga; good girls both and good housewives, 
for I have made them so. Yet not so fast,’’ 
she commanded, as the joyful twins stepped 
forward toward the blushing maidens. “ You 
are yet in disgrace with your royal father, 
and though you have helped me win my 
wager with the Desert Fairy, for which deed 
she shall give you a goodly slice of her domin- 
ions, you may not wed these maidens till you 
obtain forgiveness from your sire, and his per- 
mission to make forever the Earth your home. 
Go then and seek him ere he leaves the world 
to darkness. See, he lingers yet on the horizon. 
Be quick and at noonday to-morrow to the 
cottage with his answer.” 

19 [ 289 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


So saying, Mother Holle pointed with her 
crutch to the open door of the house, which 
Frida and Friga slowly entered. She followed 
and closed it behind her, and the twins found 
themselves alone. 

“You, Sol, were ever father’s favorite,” said 
Soltus. “ Quick, speak to him, and since he 
promised us a chance of return, beg him to send 
a rainbow, that we may mount homeward.” 

This Sol did at once, and his request was 
granted, so that after one farewell lingering look 
at the cottage, the Sun’s children began their 
upward journey. Perhaps some of the Earth’s 
dust clung to their feet, perhaps it was because 
sliding downward is ever easier than climbing 
skyward. However this may be, it is certain that 
the royal pair found it hard work indeed to 
climb the rainbow stairway, and only reached 
the Sun’s Palace in the nick of time, since the 
great gates were already closing. 

Once within, they sought their royal father 
without delay, and to their joy found Luna 
already there on one of her rare visits. With- 
out their grandmother’s pleading it would have 
[ 290 ] 


CHILDREN OF THE SUN 


been altogether impossible to obtain their fiery 
parent’s consent to their remaining upon Earth 
and their marriage with mortals; though he 
forgave them readily enough for their visit 
after he had rated them soundly. But the Sun 
had great respect for his mother’s opinion, 
and already had talked off in harmless if hot 
words the worst of his anger ; so, since Queen 
Luna favored the plan so heartily, he at last 
gave a reluctant consent. 

“But mind you,” said the Sun King, “no 
half-way measures. No more rainbow bridges, 
for I ’ll cut off the ends of every one before 
they reach the Earth. Take your choice — a 
kingdom here or a slice of desert land down 
there — which shall it be?” 

“ The desert with Frida,” said Sol. 

“ The desert with Friga,” cried Soltus. 

“ Dear boys ! ” murmured the Moon grand- 
mother. 

“ Idiots! ” thundered the Sun; but he was, after 
all, a King of his word, and they had his promise. 

In fact, he was better than his word, as I 
must tell you, for he secretly gave orders to 
[291 ] 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 


have a volcanic eruption in that part of the 
desert that Mother Holle had spoken for as the 
twins’ property, and saw to it that the sand 
was covered deep with fertile soil. Then at his 
command the rain fell, the winds blew seeds of 
flowers and fruit thither, and the great Sun King 
himself shone out upon all right royally, so that 
a wonder work equal to any magic was wrought 
in no time, and it was a very fairyland of love- 
liness, and no barren waste, to which Sol and 
Soltus brought their brides. For that Mother 
Holle kept her word goes without saying, and 
that Frida and Friga were willing you may 
have already guessed. 

It therefore only remains to say that the Chil- 
dren of the Sun never repented of their choice, 
but, having built their homes side by side, shared 
all the good things about them, one with the 
other, and lived happily together forever after. 


[ 292 ] 








NEW BOOKS FOR 
YOUNG PEOPLE 


URSULA’S FRESHMAN 

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A hot-tempered, domineering girl, full of common-sense and capable of 
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By the Same Author 

TEDDY: HER BOOK TEDDY: HER DAUGHTER 

PHEBE: HER PROFESSION NATHALIE’S CHUM 

BRENDA’S BARGAIN 

By Helen Leah Reed. Illustrated by Ellen Bernard Thompson. 
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The fourth and last of the popular “ Brenda ” books by Miss Reed intro- 
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By the Same Author 

BRENDA: HER SCHOOL AND HER CLUB 

BRENDA’S SUMMER AT ROCKLEY 

BRENDA’S COUSIN AT RADCLIFFE 

PIONEER SPANIARDS IN NORTH AMERICA 

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DANIEL WEBSTER FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 

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THE GIANT’S RUBY, AND OTHER FAIRY 
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JANE AND JOHN. Their Plays, Parties, and Picnics 

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ROBIN HOOD : HIS BOOK 

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JACK THE FIRE-DOG 

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CAMP FIDELITY GIRLS 

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THE PRINCESS KALLISTO, And Other Tales 
of the Fairies 

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BLAKE REDDING. A Boy of To-day 

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LITTLE WOMEN. Illustrated by Alice Barber Stephens. 
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AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL. Illustrated by Jessie Willcox 
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The four volumes put up in box, $8.00. 


THE GOLDEN WINDOWS 

A Book of Fables for Old and Young. By Laura E. Richards. 
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THE AWAKENING OF THE DUCHESS 

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LITTLE, BROWN, 6? COMPANY, Publishers 

254 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MASS. 


LRBJL 16 





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